OLDS — Tracks Pub co-owner Scott van de Pypekamp says it’s too early to say for sure, but the pub may hold another fundraiser for the Mountain View Emergency Shelter Society (MVESS) after their event Nov. 4 was so successful.
“It was a full house,” he said during an interview, adding the event, called Inspiring Women Inspire Women, raised more than $6,000 for the Mountain View Emergency Shelter Society.
van de Pypekamp runs Tracks along with his wife, Brittany.
MVESS has been raising money for years for an emergency shelter. The Town of Olds has provided them with land for it at the south end of 50th Avenue at 54th Street, alongside the railway tracks.
The society hopes to begin construction of the shelter this spring. The shelter will be called Kirsten’s Place, in tribute to Kirsten (Gardner) O’Donoghue, who was killed in Bowden in March 2021 in what is believed to be a case of domestic violence.
Scott says the fundraiser was inspired by the death of the Bowden woman.
He’s so encouraged by the turnout to Friday’s event that he’s considering doing something similar again, but it’s too early to know what that might be.
“It’s definitely a cause that we’ll hope to support again.”
The highlight of the evening for van de Pypekamp was when MVESS outreach services coordinator Emilie Webb spoke to the crowd about the society and its work.
“She just gave an awesome speech about what they do and why people stay in the situation, because the home outside could be more scary than the home within,” he said.
“It was just a neat moment when she talked. She had full attention of the room and it was powerful.”
He said Webb told him that the biggest concern for the society isn’t so much raising money, it’s getting the word out about what the MVESS does, why it’s so needed.
Friday's event featured entertainment as well as a silent auction. Participants also had an opportunity to try tie-dying t-shirts and to buy some tie-dyed shirts.
van de Pypekamp said some shirts that did not sell will be available for sale this week, with proceeds also going to the MVESS.
In an email, MVESS director Carol Johnston said the society is very grateful for the Tracks Pub fundraiser.
"We sincerely appreciate the efforts and hard work of Scott and his staff in putting on the fundraiser, it was a great evening. The money raised brings us that much closer to our building fund goals and was also an opportunity to raise awareness of the effects of family violence."
'Emilie is an excellent representative of MVESS and we are grateful for her passion and dedication in working with victims of family violence and providing programs to the community," she added.
