Organizers make final push for spectacular Canada Day celebrations in Vernon

VERNON – With the big event just days away, organizers of the Vernon Canada Day celebrations are still a few thousand dollars short of their fundraising goal.

A Go Fund Me page opened at the beginning of the month appealed to the public to help come up with just over $8,000 to help fulfill all the free activities lined up for July 1.

North Okanagan Canada Day Society president Dave Frost says people have been extremely generous over the past few weeks.

“It (shortfall) has been getting less and less every day,” he says. “Another $4,500 would be great.”

He says expenses were a bit higher than normal this year because organizers are going all out for Canada 150.

“We’d be on budget if we kept things the same as last year, but we wanted to do something special,” Frost says.

He says the overall budget is north of $50,000, and has been made possible through donations and generous sponsorships. Donations are required so that all events can be offered free of charge, Frost says.

He says no events are at risk of cancellation due to finances; they will simply seek more sponsorships and keep the Go Fund Me page open after July 1 if they are still short.

“If people enjoyed the show and want to donate (after) it will be open,” he says.

There are numerous activities in Polson Park on July 1, followed by a fireworks display on Okanagan Lake at 10:30 p.m. There will be shuttle rides from the parking lot at Marshall Fields taking people to and from a viewing area on Lakeshore Road. People can also watch the display from Paddlewheel Park and Bella Vista or Bench Roads.

Okanagan Skydive will also be putting on a display. Just before the fireworks, skydivers will attempt to form a 150 in the sky.

Updates on the events can be found here. 

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