INNISFAIL - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Prairies to Peaks and the Innisfail Kinsmen Club are joining efforts to help raise money for the community, including the new skatepark.
The local groups have applied to win a contest sponsored by the Big Valley Jamboree.
The contest, entitled Small Town Saturday Night 2017, is open to municipalities in Alberta with populations under 20,000 people. The winner will have the chance to host a concert featuring Canadian country music sensation Gord Bamford, with proceeds going towards a local project or program.
In addition to a portion going to the Kinsmen club for the skatepark project, a portion will also go towards Big Brothers Big Sisters of Prairies to Peaks for their mentorship programs.
"(The contest) was brought to our attention by Henry Wong from the town. We learned that Big Brothers Big Sisters was also looking at sending in an application," said Russ Klemmer of the Kinsmen club. "We talked between the groups and we agreed that it's a fantastic opportunity to pair up and have both (groups) work towards the goal."
The Kinsmen and Kinettes clubs are the lead fundraisers for the skatepark initiative, he noted.
The town is also showing its support.
"Council did endorse the Kinsmen and Big Brothers Big Sisters entry into the Small Town Saturday Night contest," said Henry Wong, director of community services. "I think this is a good initiative. It should be good for the community."
A letter of endorsement was approved by Innisfail council on Jan. 23.
In addition to raising money for the proposed skatepark, half of the proceeds raised will go towards Big Brothers Big Sisters Prairies to Peaks (BBBS).
"We're pairing up together and we'll split the money," said Sherry Dijkstra, executive director for BBBS. "The Kinsmen get their portion for the skateboard park and we get our portion to help enhance our mentoring programs.
"I really hope the town is all behind us, I hope everybody votes and I really hope we get it," she added.
Winners are chosen from the Top 10 through a voting process. Voting begins on Feb. 1 and finishes Feb. 15.
"You log in and you vote. From those votes, the Top 10 are selected," said Klemmer. "After that a video is produced for those Top 10 and another round of voting is done to pick the ultimate winner," he said. "You log in to the Big Valley Jamboree, become a bandit member and from there you vote one vote per day for the initiative. Hopefully we're in the Top 10 and in the finals."
To cast your vote for Innisfail visit www.bigvalleyjamboree.com/stsn and register as a BVJ bandit member.
Sherry Dijkstra
"I really hope the town is all behind us, I hope everybody votes and I really hope we get it."
