Weekend event supports charities

The 2008 Community Christmas Fair on Saturday was a success raising $850 for the two major community groups. The money, raised from vendors and the $2 admission fee, goes to the Kenya Team and the Jasper Drugs Cancer Walk Group. There was also support going to the Seton Hospital Auxiliary, the Fire Department, through the sale of its calendars, and the MS Society.

Event organizer Greg Van Tighem said there were more groups than ever benefitting this year and he was really happy with the success of the event. As well, the Food Bank donation bin was filled two and a half times during the day.

The fair was “fairly well attended” according to Van Tighem, who said the event was at capacity for the first three hours and then steady for the rest of the day with around 450 people coming through the doors. But, there could be more: “I definitely would like to see more people through to buy crafts and baked goods,” said Van Tighem, who also brings the Farmers’ Market and summer and fall fairs to town. “It’s a good opportunity for local people to come and get some really quality items at a lower rate than they would normally pay.”

There are still efforts being made to get the Farmers’ Market as a regular appearance on the Jasper events list. “I know people love having fresh produce and love having all those things and it’s good for you and the environment and everything else. And the price is good,” he said. “We are definitely looking at doing more Farmers’ Markets.

Van Tighem suggested next year the fair may be marketed differently to gain more community support. “We try and get the word out to get people from the whole area. I know there is a lot of people that don’t come because they don’t know what they’re missing,” he said. “These vendors bring a lot of stuff.” He also thought that because the fair was competing with the Grey Cup it may have impacted numbers.

Van Tighem encourages the public to get involved, saying he would like to see some more vendors at the events in future.