One good picnic deserves another seems to be the philosophy of a group of organizers connected with last year's sesquicentennial celebrations.
The Rendezvous Picnic last August saw approximately 11,000 attendees come out for the largest gathering of people eating sandwiches out of waxed paper wrappers and drinking from juice boxes. It was the culmination of the celebration committee's efforts to get St. Albertans to put St. Albert on a pedestal and party it up.
After the success of last year's Rendezvous Picnic, organizers knew that momentum like that should continue on well beyond the year of the 150th anniversary. That's why they've banded back together to become the Spirit of St. Albert Society, and one of the first orders of business is to announce the date for the 2012 St. Albert River Valley Picnic taking place on the banks of the Sturgeon River from St. Albert Centre to the train trestle bridge behind Lions Park. All members of the community are invited to join in the fun on Sunday, Aug. 26.
Committee chair Cheryl Mackenzie said that a lot was learned last year. Organizers are capitalizing on the learning curve to improve the event for all by concentrating the picnic into a smaller area.
"It makes it more accessible by foot so we don't have to worry so much about transporting people around, and it brings it together so everybody gets to experience the entire picnic."
Before all of that can happen, however, the committee needs a few dedicated volunteers to offer their time as organizers and helpers, with 'few' actually meaning 110 people.
An info fair will be held in the basement of the St. Albert Parish at 7 St. Vital Avenue from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Attendees can learn all about the various ways that volunteers will be needed now and on the big day.
For more information, call Mackenzie at 780-907-1034 or www.spiritofstalbert.ca. She is hoping to reach out to potential sponsors and community organizations that want to participate as well. Details regarding the event, including the entertainment and activities, will be released in the next few months.
"We're taking the best of last year and we're expanding it," Mackenzie hinted, adding that the committee is working toward making this an annual affair that people will automatically mark on their calendars.
Food bank collections
While the river valley picnic will give attendees a chance to donate to the St. Albert Food Bank, a new and unusual version of the food drive will happen in a little more than a month from now.
The first annual Spirit of St. Albert Baby Food Drive will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at St. Albert Place on June 9. Co-ordinator Linda Locicero hopes people bring food and items like clothing and blankets for children up to 24 months. Cash and other food donations will be accepted as well.
"We'd like to raise money for the food bank," she stated. "It's giving back to the community. It's important."
During the drive, Jen Broe, founder and president of Baby Gourmet, will present a donation of 2,500 servings of organic baby food.
