Patriot Days festival saved

SACKVILLE
By Yvette d'Entremont - The Weekly News
The future of Sackville's popular Patriot Days week-long summer festival is no longer in limbo.
Patriot Days organizers were recently granted one of their fondest wishes when HRM announced its decision to commit a senior event co-ordinator and a summer student to help with the event.
The pair will help local volunteers who have single-handedly organized the community festival for 11 years.
The event's future was questioned by Sackville Community Development Association president Gordon Morgan late last year. He didn't believe the week-long summer festival could continue without an infusion of more volunteers or dedicated assistance from HRM.
Morgan said the group received official word about one month ago that HRM senior event co-ordinator Mike Gillett and a summer student will work with Patriot Days volunteers to keep the festival afloat.
"That was everything we were looking for ... Patriot Days has more possibilities of sustainability that it has ever had before," Morgan said. "HRM's help will make a huge impact and will lessen the workload on the volunteers."
Longtime Patriot Days volunteer Charlene Whitlock has agreed to serve as 2009 Patriot Days chairperson, while fellow volunteer Carolyn Harvey will oversee this year's parade.
Morgan said they're thrilled to have "vice chairs" willing to learn the ropes in preparation for taking over next year. He predicts a lot less burn out and expects the small slate of committed Patriot Days volunteers will grow due to HRM's active involvement.
"It's going to save us a lot of work, and with HRM helping we'll have more volunteers willing to give their time because it's not as daunting a task," said Whitlock.
"We're always looking for volunteers, and now would be a good year to join because we're getting everybody trained for future years."
Volunteers are needed for many aspects of the festival. On the day of the parade alone, about 50 people are needed to set up and work along the parade route.
For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact Whitlock at daisy
girl@ns.sympatico.ca.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca