SUNDRE — Although it’s been a couple of years since the formerly annual Neighbours Day event was able to go ahead because of the pandemic, organizers were glad that the interest of stakeholders and the community seems to be as keen as ever.
“We were very happy with the turnout, and very happy to have a real cross-section between government representatives, community exhibitors and community businesses, and not-for-profits and oil and gas,” said Tracey McCrimmon, Sundre Petroleum Operators Group (SPOG) executive director.
Prior to the pandemic, the trade fair would tend to draw anywhere between 40 to 60 exhibitors. With a couple of late additions, there were 51 for the event’s return on Friday, Aug. 26 at the Sundre Arena.
“So, we were really up there with close numbers to what our standard is when we just run one venue,” McCrimmon said.
Additionally, many people also attended to see the exhibits.
“We really feel that the representation that we got of participants to come in and join us and attendance was certainly was up – higher than we’ve seen in a few years,” she said.
“We were really happy with the attendance. I think there was something there for everybody to see.”
In some instances, that might have simply been the sight of a friendly, familiar face not seen in far too long.
“Some of them, through the turn down with COVID, they saw people that they hadn’t seen in years,” she said.
And although not all of SPOG’s industry members attended, many did not pass on the opportunity to reconnect with stakeholders and answer any questions people might have, she said.
“The feedback that we got from stakeholders (was that they) were so thankful to have us back, and how much they had missed attending this event,” she said.
“We really felt it meets the goals and objectives that we set out to bring community together.”
The theme behind this year’s Neighbours Day was “Celebrating Milestones” in recognition of SPOG’s 30th anniversary.
The organizers strive to bear in mind seasonal schedules such as harvest time, and McCrimmon said the late-August lineup seemed to have “landed on a good timeframe.”
Asked how the process of planning for the event’s return after a couple years panned out, she said, “It was really seamless. We kind of just marched like we didn’t even take a break.”
Of course following the last couple of years, there lingered a level of uncertainty over the organizers’ heads leading up to the event.
“We were a little nervous,” she said, candidly confessing organizers did not quite know what to expect after not holding the event for a couple of years and whether the community would still embrace it like before.
Those concerns were put to rest by the turnout of not only exhibitors but also attendees from the public.
“We kind of picked up where we left off, and people came and joined us. I feel we really didn’t skip a beat, it was nice to get back together,” she said.
“We’re super encouraged now that it’s something the community and all of our stakeholders genuinely want. So, we got lots to build on.”
