Another year’s Razzle Dazzle Day has come and gone with the 2018 event drawing rave reviews.
The annual celebration, organized by the Bashaw and District Chamber of Commerce, went June 9 and managed to skirt most of the bad weather that hit the region that day.
Chamber president Dustin Hemingson provided the membership at the organization’s month meeting June 13 with a report on the feedback heard.
“The entire day was such a wonderful success, which was helped by the weather holding off for the most part. I also wanted to thank all of the volunteers and the various groups, organizations and businesses that worked hard to ensure Razzle Dazzle Day went as well as it did,” said Hemingson.
Drawing the biggest cheers was the addition to the line up — fireworks.
Hemingson added the fireworks would not have been possible without the financial contributions of several sponsors including Lynn Schultz, Bashaw Meats, Bashaw Liquor, Wong’s Restaurant, OK Tire, Bashaw Hotel, ATB, Home Hardware, Bashaw Sports Centre, Meeting Place, Bashaw Concrete, Bashaw Farm and Building Supply plus Servus Credit Union.
He noted that while specific numbers weren’t yet available, a number of events drew better than average attendance with the number of people lining the parade route being increased from previous years.
“A huge thank you has to go to the Bashaw Fire Department, which had around 170 people out to the annual pancake breakfast and then saw plenty of customers drop by after lunch for the department’s first ever car wash fundraiser,” Hemingson said, adding the car wash garnered a few sizeable donations and is likely to be looked at for a return next year.
Chamber meeting
One topic discussed at the meeting included preliminary discussions about revising the Chamber’s Bashaw Bucks program. Operated during the Christmas holiday season, the program hands out prizes to selected individuals who have filled out cards by shopping at local participating businesses.
Hemingson explained that some ideas are being looked into to see what can be done to further improve the program.
Another subject brought up was what can be done for Alberta’s Small Business Week, which goes from Oct. 15 to 19. In the past, attempts for an evening meet and greet for local Chamber members as well as setting up a seminar dedicated to issues and topics of concern for small business have generated lukewarm responses in Bashaw.