... To put the show on, year after year, takes an army of dedicated volunteers.
As both a resident and business owner, I know the motivation is not commercial.
For our store and many others, it is a lost day for business.
But it's worth it, because as a 28-year resident of Fort Langley, I believe it is part of our heritage and tradition as a community. Having coordinated the traffic volunteers for a five-year stretch, I know first hand the large numbers of volunteers required to put on this event.
So, many thanks to all the volunteers: like Fred Jackson, the parade marshal, who has put in 32 years; to Howie Vickberg for jumping in when the parade was in danger of folding; to Casey, Russ, Ian, Joyce, Corrine and Jimmie; to all the Fort Langley Lions; to the 45 to 50 traffic volunteers; to the Native Daughters for continuing the May Queen and Princess tradition; the schools involved in the May Pole dancing; and all the volunteer groups like the Farm Museum, BIA, and Friends of the Fort for their involvement.
The 2008 May Day parade and festival on May 19 starts at 11 a.m., and will have a slight route change and run in the opposite direction, so that the parade ends at the National Historic Site in recognition of the 150th anniversary of B.C. becoming a Crown Colony.
Let's make a special point to honour all the volunteers who have kept the May Day celebrations going for 86 years.
Kurt Alberts, Fort Langley