Centennial year a busy one: organizers

With the town’s centennial year coming to an end, Marla Simpson’s time as centennial co-ordinator is over.
But having turned over a final report to the committee of the whole of council as to the Centennial Celebrations Advisory Committee’s activities for the past year or so, she took a few minutes yesterday to reflect on what an exciting year it was.
“We were busy all year,” Simpson said yesterday from the Business Improvement Association’s office, where she now works as a co-ordinator for that organization.
And this was very clear, as a quick look at the report showed a long list of events and activities this past year, including:
•the Great Centennial Beard Growing Contest (Jan. 1-April 11);
•New Year’s levee (Jan. 1);
•a trivia contest on B93-FM;
•100th Day Celebrations at St. Michael’s School (Feb. 4);
•Celebration of 100 Years of the Performing Arts (Feb. 14);
•inaugural council meeting (April 11);
•the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts highlights concert (April 13);
•NOMA conference (May 1-3);
•Centennial tea and quilt display (May 3);
•Chamber of Commerce Home and Leisure Show (May 9-10);
•Centennial poetry contest (launched April 11, with readings held May 14);
•BIA Mall Day (June 27);
•Relay for Life (June 27);
•Mini-Queen pageant (June 28);
•Culturama (June 28);
•interdenominational church service (June 29);
•pancake breakfast (June 29);
•Great Centennial Golf Tournament;
•Pither’s Point party and fireworks (July 1); and
•Centennial Community Memories exhibit at the museum (Nov. 3, 2003-Jan. 4, 2004).
Some of these were strictly centennial committee events while others were simply ones where Simpson and the rest of the committee had a presence.
“I think everything went well,” she said. “We had good attendance at most of the events. It seemed to get people thinking about the past, and what our community is really all about.”
She added it was a “tough decision” to choose what her favourite event was this past year, but that the celebrations at Pither’s Point on June 30 and July 1 drew huge crowds—and perhaps best reflected the spirit of community in 2003.
“I think everything was very successful,” agreed Pam Hawley, chair of the centennial committee. “The community response on April 11 [the town’s ‘birthday’ and the date of the inaugural council meeting] was overwhelming.
“And on July 1—well, we hadn’t seen that many people at the Point in quite a while,” she added.
Hawley noted she felt the celebrations here set an example for other communities in the district to follow suit. For instance, she pointed out Rainy River having a New Year’s levee to kick off its centennial celebrations in 2004.
The Centennial Celebrations Advisory Committee consisted of Simpson, Hawley, former CAO Bill Naturkach, former treasurer Diane Pearson, Sig Mosley, Crystal Godbout, former mayor Glenn Witherspoon, Clerk Glenn Treftlin, former Coun. Sharon Tibbs, EDO Geoff Gillon, and Paul Bock.
When the committee of the whole accepted the report Monday, acting chair Coun. Tannis Drysdale congratulated the centennial committee on its work.
“It’s obvious from the report that the committee was very active, and worked hard to make it an eventful year for the community,” she remarked.
“Speaking on behalf of Mayor Witherspoon and the former council, we’re very grateful,” echoed Coun. Neil Kabel. “They did a tremendous job. We applaud them.”
Meanwhile, Simpson started her part-time job as BIA co-ordinator last week, replacing Harlene Lowey who has gone on to a full-time position elsewhere.
“I’m looking forward to it [the job as BIA co-ordinator],” said Simpson, noting her experience as centennial co-ordinator saw her meet a lot of people around town.
“In some ways, the two jobs are very similar,” she added.
Simpson will be at the BIA office (in the Rainy Lake Hotel) on Monday through Friday in the mornings.