The Province of Manitoba is offering grants of up to $10,000 to groups that come up with unique ways to celebrate Manitoba’s 150th anniversary next year.
So Virden’s Boost Committee embraced the opportunity and invited citizens to a brainstorming session last week.
On Thursday Oct. 3 about 20 people turned out to the meeting at the Virden Legion Club Room organized by Tiffany Cameron of Boost and Liza Park, the Town’s economic development manager.
Cameron said the Celebration 150 program funds a local host community or organization to launch one-of-a-kind events based on one of four themes: Discover our Beauty, Meet our People, Experience our Culture, and Explore our History.
The brainstormers broke out into small groups to discuss their ideas for celebratory events that would show off Virden’s best features. They included:
- A vintage dress-up social
- History of Virden play done by students
- Tea party at the CPR Station with croquet games and old-time costumes
- Agricultural fair, midway and fireworks
- Taste of Virden food event
- Mini folklorama featuring local cultures
- Wild West traveling theatre at heritage locations with audience interaction
- Winter festival with carnival, bonfires, ice sculptures, toboggan races, skating path in Victoria Park
- Create a Virden app: 150 Interesting Things About Virden
- Big name concert, and more.
Park was happy with Thursday’s meeting and plans to strike a Virden committee to push the Celebration 150 project forward.
“I was very pleased with the outcome of that meeting, getting 20 people to volunteer their time and thoughts is a win for any community discussion.
“I am thinking that I will also try and engage more ideas through an online survey too.”
The deadline to submit completed proposals is Nov. 12 and the events must take place in 2020. Up to $10,000 is available per project.
