Highlights, Elmvale Water Festival 2009
Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain …. what better way to "celebrate water" at the Elmvale Water Festival (EWF) 2009?The Festival proved to be as successful as anticipated. Over 1000 people, of all ages, attended the third annual Festival. Mother Nature supplied us with a gentle reminder to continue our efforts to protect the bounty that she provides, our most precious resource …. water!
The Festival began with a traditional Anishinabe Water Ceremony hosted by Elder Gloria King, which served to remind us of the purpose of water and its importance throughout life. Natural spring water was served all day thanks to Truax Construction, and everyone received a refillable "smart bottle" from Container Corporation of Canada. Those people who purchased an EWF SIGG aluminum bottle will remember the Festival for many years every time they drink from the virtually indestructible SIGG bottle they will know that they have reduced the planet's waste stream. And for many, their closet holds additional reminders in the many EWF t-shirts that were purchased.
The fairgrounds offered a truly festive venue for all to enjoy and the tented look gave the feeling of a true carnival. Special thanks is due to the Flos Agricultural Society for generously allowing the use of the fairgrounds and to Springwater Township and the Curling Rink, including Michael Jacobs, and the building staff, for all their help
Delicious food was served from morning (Casal Catering) to night (Mike Jensen) and goodies for the sweets lovers (Elmvale Anglican Church) rounded out the menu.
Amazing music filled the air and renown speakers shared their knowledge about water and the planet with overflowing crowds in the speakers tent (please see www.elmvale.org for details). All this took place amid the carnival games and farmers/vendors market that offered lots to see and do for young and old.
Ian Connacher's films Alphabet Soup and Addicted to Plastic showed us all how plastic should be managed better if our planet is to survive.
The Children's educational centre included amazing, hands-on activities where everyone learned how water "works", thanks to the Children's Water Education Council.
The silent auction sold almost every item offered by many donors & sponsors and the exhibits and booths held the attention of those that wanted to learn more about the goods and services that they offered. Both these activities added immeasurably to the funds necessary to support the Festival.
The day's activities concluded with the Jr. Farmer's & KICX fm 106 video dance in the evening.
"Green" power for the Festival was supplied by Bullfrog Power and Zero Waste coordinated all "garbage" collection and redirection to insure that the event was "waste" free.
A proper list of "thanks" would take pages. Without the help of all our volunteers from the community, Elmvale District High School and Georgian College and the sponsors & donors and local businesses that provided money or goods for sale and the partners that helped in so many ways, the Festival could not have taken place. I hope you all have time to visit our website (www.elmvale.org) for a complete list of all those who were so important in making this year's EWF a great success (the web site will be updated in the near future). We regret any omissions.
The EWF is sponsored by the Elmvale Foundation, a federally registered charity, and is funded in its entirety by the many sponsors, donors and partners listed on our web site with special thanks due to SIGG and Container Corporation of Canada.
We hope to see you all next year. And if you have any ideas on how to make EWF 2010 bigger and better, or you would like to volunteer, please send them to mike@elmvale.org.