Seafest planning well under way for a cultural theme

The thirty anniversary of Prince Ruperts Seafest celebrations is set for June 12 to 15 and organizers this year have chosen the theme of the cultures of the North Coast, past, present and future.

The three day festival which can at time draw up to 10,000 visitors to events features a number of events and exhibits both in the downtown area and on the Prince Rupert watefront. With that ambitious agenda ahead of it, organizers are issuing a call for volunteers to provide assistance for the many events required to make the festival the long running success it has become.

The Daily News featured details of the planning process and some background on what organizers are looking for from volunteers this year.

Organizers chart the course for a cultural Seafest
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, April 11, 2008
Page one

The North Coast cultures past, present and future will be highlighted during this year's Seafest - and organization of the annual celebration is underway.

The 30th-annual event, that usually attracts some 10,000 people during the three days, takes place June 12 to 15.

"We chose North Coast Cultures as our parade theme. The attempt was to tie this with British Columbia 150, to look at our history and our future," said Joy Sundin, of the Prince Rupert Special Events Society, the organization composed of volunteers that keeps the annual event on course.

Seafest includes many events and activities; from the tasting of the famous shish kabobs, seafood, and tasty BBQs, to trying a hand at three-on-three basketball, four-on-four street hockey, arm wrestling or the soapbox derby. There are many more events and three days are hardly enough to participate in, or watch, them all.

The Special Events Society is looking for new sponsors for events this year, including someone to sponsor the volleyball tournament and the family-oriented activities that used to take place in front of Northwest Community College during the Saturday events downtown. This used to include games like the beanbag toss, pie-throwing and colouring contests.

In addition, organizers hope to have someone sponsor a snooker tournament or get an organization or group of adults to help out with the Kaien Island Youth Council Blockstock on Friday evening.

"They need adult supervisors for that," said Sundin. "Hundreds of kids come to that and it usually only a few who are the problem."

In addition, they welcome anyone who wants to bring back a historic event.
"The Seafest Committee is in need of more volunteers now to take on a small job, and we welcome you to our bi-weekly meetings every Tuesday, with the next one on April 15th," said Sundin.

They meet at the Special Events Society office and can be reached at 624-9118 or by email at prspecialevents@citytel.net.

"Please consider giving back to your community and join the antics behind the scenes," said Sundin.