The annual kick off of the holiday shopping season in Athabasca was classified a success with the $5,000 fireworks show receiving much of the applause.
That was the consensus of the membership at the Athabasca District Chamber of Commerce meeting last Wednesday.
“Thanks to the fireworks, that got a lot of the people out that night,” said Todd Dutchak of Select Rentals and one of the members that organized Moonlight Madness.
“A lot of people pulled out of the parade at the last minute because of the freezing rain; that made things go faster than planned and led to the tree lighting going sooner, which was the cue for the fireworks to go off. It wasn’t perfect, but everyone loved the fireworks and the location.”
However, some businesses have expressed concerns that it may not have generated as much traffic as anticipated, so Dutchak made the suggestion that the 2015 event be turned into a weekend -ong celebration.
“Instead of simply a three-hour blitz, the feeling is that we could attract more people from out of town if the fireworks could go Friday night and then combined with a Santa Claus parade on the Saturday,” he stated.
The idea elicited a number of positive responses from members, which included suggestions of different activities that could be held at night and the following day that would draw a variety of people and families.
“We need to start thinking about next year very soon and we are going to need a committee, not just a couple of people, if this is the direction we are going to go,” stated chamber president Penny Semashkewich.
She also wants to see some feedback from the membership, as well as other merchants, to find out exactly how the night went.
“The Chamber did its part by bringing the horse to the water, the rest is up to the businesses to do their part also,” she added.
Another positive was businesses donated more than the $5,000 expense for the fireworks. The additional $2,100 has been put into an account to help make next year’s fireworks show even bigger.
The chamber is also looking into building their own Santa suit and having a proper photographic background for next year.
Search for new president
Semashkewich gave her report that included a reminder that a search for someone to take on the president’s job needs to start soon, as her two-year term runs out at the Chamber’s annual general meeting that is set for Apr. 8.
“The membership need to identify and talk to potential candidates as I can’t sit for another term, and it would be nice to have a vote on a president rather than begging to fill the position,” she said.
As well, Semashkewich talked about Aspen Primary Care Network open house in Athabasca late last month.
She explained that the network, which includes a variety of doctors and other medical practitioners, is getting bigger in the region and the hope is to eventually open a medical walk-in clinic in Athabasca in the near future.
