Sea Cavalcade Society has decided to throw in the towel over lack of skilled, dedicated volunteers for Gibsons 50-year tradition
(By News Desk)
Gibsons mayor Bill Beamish is looking for ways to revive the annual Sea Cavalcade after organizers announced the festival would not be held this year due to lack of volunteer support.
“I believe that we should consider our response to this notice for our next council agenda,” Beamish said in an email to Gibsons councillors this week after receiving notice from the Sunshine Coast Sea Cavalcade Society that the festival has been cancelled this year.
The festival is a 50-year tradition but the society says it no longer has enough skilled, dedicated volunteers to continue.
“Is there anything that we can do to encourage and support the continuance of Sea Cavalcade, or is it up to a new group of volunteers to make it happen?” Beamish asked in his email.
“What are our options to keep it going in its present form or in a different format? This annual celebration has been part of our community for many years and it is a shame to see it end. However, volunteer burnout is a reality and many organizations are being similarly impacted,” he wrote.
The issue is on the agenda for the April 2 council meeting. Beamish will meet with the Sea Cavalcade committee next month to explore ideas and options that the committee may have considered before reaching the decision to discontinue its activities.
“The Sea Cavalcade Committee has done great service to our community over the years and it would be a shame if we lose the knowledge and experience of its members at this critical time,” Beamish said.
On March 27, the Sea Cavalcade Society issued the following statement:
“There will be no Sea Cavalcade Festival in 2019!
We no longer have the skilled, dedicated volunteers coming on board to learn and complete the many, many tasks that have been needed to stage past Sea Cavalcades.
Our liabilities cannot be covered and our activities cannot be managed without essential people to assume the necessary roles that the festival requires.
Perhaps the festival will renew in the future, but our turn has ended. We have stretched our efforts in the last few years to the best of our abilities but we alone cannot continue to do this.
We were ready to train a new team, but no one volunteered. We hope that future years will bring a new group of dedicated skilled volunteers together who will bring their ideas and skills to create more Sea Cavalcade Festivals.
For those who have helped and supported us in the past, we wish to thank you. We would like to especially thank the Town of Gibsons, and also the SCRD, the B.C. Gaming Grants Commission, the many sponsors, volunteers and activity leaders of past years and you, our community, for your support and participation through the last 50 years! Your part helped create a wonderful time for Coast families in past summers.
We are very proud that we have been a part of 50 years of Sea Cavalcade Festivals. We are especially proud of the 50th year!”
“I believe that we should consider our response to this notice for our next council agenda,” mayor Bill Beamish said in an email to Gibsons councillors this week after receiving notice from the Sunshine Coast Sea Cavalcade Society that the festival has been cancelled this year.
The society says it no longer has enough skilled, dedicated volunteers to continue.
“Is there anything that we can do to encourage and support the continuance of Sea Cavalcade, or is it up to a new group of volunteers to make it happen?” Beamish said in his email.
“What are our options to keep it going in its present form or in a different format? This annual celebration has been part of our community for many years and it is a shame to see it end. However, volunteer burnout is a reality and many organizations are being similarly impacted,” he wrote.
The issue is on the agenda for the April 2 council meeting.
He will meet with the Sea Cavalcade committee next month to explore ideas and options that the committee may have considered before reaching the decision to discontinue its activities.
“The Sea Cavalcade Committee has done great service to our community over the years and it would be a shame if we lose the knowledge and experience of its members at this critical time,” Beamish said.
On March 27, the Sea Cavalcade Society issued the following statement:
“There will be no Sea Cavalcade Festival in 2019!
We no longer have the skilled, dedicated volunteers coming on board to learn and complete the many, many tasks that have been needed to stage past Sea Cavalcades.
Our liabilities cannot be covered and our activities cannot be managed without essential people to assume the necessary roles that the festival requires.
Perhaps the festival will renew in the future, but our turn has ended. We have stretched our efforts in the last few years to the best of our abilities but we alone cannot continue to do this.
We were ready to train a new team, but no one volunteered. We hope that future years will bring a new group of dedicated skilled volunteers together who will bring their ideas and skills to create more Sea Cavalcade Festivals.
For those who have helped and supported us in the past, we wish to thank you. We would like to especially thank the Town of Gibsons, and also the SCRD, the B.C. Gaming Grants Commission, the many sponsors, volunteers and activity leaders of past years and you, our community, for your support and participation through the last 50 years! Your part helped create a wonderful time for Coast families in past summers.
We are very proud that we have been a part of 50 years of Sea Cavalcade Festivals. We are especially proud of the 50th year!”