Some 200 people filtered through the Rotary Spirit Centre Fieldhouse Sept. 4 for the annual community showcase, where over 40 local organizations got a chance to make their services known to the community.
“Definitely this year we had more wide-ranging groups, a lot more fitness groups, social groups. We’re also starting to attract more regional groups as well” said Travis Darling, community services program and marketing supervisor with the Town of Westlock.
One of the new regional tables this year was the Barrhead Swim Club, which according to Darling brings some Westlock residents out there for the winter swim club.
The established tables also had their spots secured this year as well, including CONEX, Family and Community Support Services, Victim Services and the Cadets.
Among them were Cheryl Oulton and Debbie McCoy of the Westlock Community Gardens, at a table displaying some of this year’s produce.
The gardens added new raised beds this year which accommodate people with disabilities or mobility issues, as well as their own water source, both of which contributed to their numbers doubling for 2019 — about 50 spots are now rented out, but more are available to those interested.
Another positive this year compared to previous showcases was the level of interest on the part of attendees, which Darling saw as an encouraging factor in continuing to put the town and its organizations on display.
“There was a lot more interaction this year. Instead of bypassing everyone’s table, there was a lot more talking,” said Darling, for whom the event is all about the conversation at each table, perhaps aided by the mocktail contest.
Not to mention that “everyone had the excuse not to come,” said Darling of the looming thunderstorm that night which didn’t prevent large numbers of people from trickling through the fieldhouse doors.
This year’s mocktail contest came out with a clear winner: CONEX’s “Singing in the rain” beverage took the trophy. It might have been the drink, but it certainly offered encouragement to vote seeing Jack Adkins dressed, on theme, in a rain poncho.
The peach Bellini from FCSS was the runner-up.
“I will be doing my part in unseeding CONEX next year,” said Darling.
