Hundreds gathered at the Westlock and District Community Hall Dec. 31 to not only ring in the New Year, but kick off 12 months of celebration for Westlock’s 100th birthday.
The stage, manned by Morinville country artists Ain’t No rodeo, was lit with red and green and even mayor Ralph Leriger found himself in festive colours, sporting bright red dancing shoes and socks adorned with musical patterns.
“I think it is a heck of a start,” he said. “People are really excited. I think it’s going to be an exciting year for Westlock in 2016 and we’re starting off with a real bang.”
Everyone shared in the excitement of the event and even the party planners had a little time off.
Tina Wold, owner of the Flower Shoppe and event sub-committee chair, praised the crowd and acknowledged that to see such a positive reaction from the community made all of the work and preparations worthwhile.
“When you have a crowd like this, it’s always worth it,” she said.
“Everything’s gone smooth. We’ve got a committee that works well and works hard. We’ve also got a fantastic caterer, excellent food. People have already commented hugely on it.”
While most attendees raised a glass to 2015, Westlock 100th anniversary committee chair Shirley Morie was quick to remind everyone that, for Westlock, the event marks the beginning of a year’s worth of events to celebrate the town’s 100th anniversary.
“This is our big kickoff,” Morie said.
“Our committee has been in existence for a year and a half, so this is not a fly-by-night thing.
“It has been in the process of being organized for over a year.”
Partygoers danced the night away, but on the tip of everyone’s mind was the coming year and centenary events dotted throughout the calender.
Some in attendance even had a chance to mull over their New Year’s resolutions.
Wold was secretive and said only that she’d be “doing a few personal things for [herself].”
Leriger was more forthcoming, and admitted that the night’s dancing would kick off a “strict diet and rigid exercise program.”
As chair of the 100th anniversary committee, Morie just hoped to “get through the coming year.”
But the most telling resolution was a “municipal resolution” for Westlock, as a town and a community, put forth by Leriger.
“I want to provide a message of encouragement for the community. The province and the country are experiencing some down economies, but there are always opportunities,” he said.
“These are opportunities in every economy for those that have their wits about them. We have our wits about us and we’ll figure out where Westlock can participate in whatever opportunities present themselves.”
