Dear editor,
Please accept this letter as one of clarification on certain comments with respect to the funds allocated for the annual Canada Day fireworks display and most importantly their source.
As the coordinator for the display I would like to highlight that the Canada Day Committee does not raise “tens of thousands of dollars” for the fireworks; in fact the funds raised and received are put toward the entire day of celebration activities, from 8 a.m. to close to midnight.
Further, I wish to clarify that the Municipality of Jasper is a partner in the day’s activities including hosting the Pancake Breakfast with proceeds donated to an annually determined non-profit organization.
At no time is there a cheque written to the Canada Day Committee to develop and produce the above noted day-long programme; this is a misconception that has circulated in the community over the past few days.
Finally, for those who believe the Canada Day Committee pays the contractor tens of thousands of dollars for their work and product they are, in fact, one of the single largest in-kind sponsors of the day with the cost of the display almost double the budget. Indeed, we are fortunate to have such a partner.
I truly hope this bit of information helps the residents of this community to understand the Canada Day Committee is a group of approximately seven volunteers who believe in Canada as a country and what it means to celebrate it appropriately. Further, if it was not for the generous gifts in-kind of those events by local businesses, the day simply would not happen.
I applaud all of those who understand it is a complicated business to develop and produce a party for approximately 30,000 people throughout the course of the day and to do so with a shoestring.
Pattie Pavlov
Past Canada Day chair and fireworks coordinator
Jasper
