Residents who enjoyed many of the Rendezvous 2011 activities celebrating St. Albert’s 150th anniversary will get another opportunity to get out and get involved courtesy of a new society that has set up shop.
The Spirit of St. Albert Society (SOSA) approached councillors during budget deliberations, announcing its formation and requesting city funding for administrative costs as well as sponsorship of one event.
Cheryl MacKenzie, chair of SOSA, was an event manager with the 150th celebrations and helped organize the river valley family picnic in August. It was that event that spurred her and other volunteers to try to keep some of the Rendezvous’ more popular activities alive.
“The impact of that day and just the energy it brought forward … we met with the staff project manager the next day and we just decided we needed to make sure these events are carried forward,” MacKenzie said.
The society has targeted three events for 2012 — the winter festival on Family Day, the Father’s Day soapbox derby and the river valley picnic. It has partnered with the city for the winter festival and Rock’n August for the derby. The picnic, which will require substantial funding, still needs a sponsor.
In her presentation to councillors, MacKenzie asked for city funding in two different areas — $30,000 for administrative costs in its start-up year to secure office space and start promoting its presence in the city, as well as $29,000 for the summer picnic, approximately 50 per cent of the expected cost.
“The city would be our lead funder for the picnic,” MacKenzie said. “Anything we don’t get we will go to private businesses and look for sponsorship. We built some great relationships during the 150th and have already gotten positive feedback.”
Those funds might be necessary, as no motion has been brought forward by councillors to fund the administrative costs or picnic.
“As you’re a new group, is there a number of groups in the community that are doing similar kinds of things? Are you duplicating anything?” Coun. Malcolm Parker asked MacKenzie during her appearance.
“We are not,” MacKenzie replied. “We are working with those organizations to bring them together. We are an umbrella group that can bring other groups together.”
While the society has its eyes set on three specific events, MacKenzie said it is open to ideas.
“If there are ideas out there, that people want to do but don’t know how to do them, share them with us.”
Anyone interested in contacting the society can do so at [email protected].
