LAC LA BICHE - On Sept. 8, more than 60 organizations and groups from in and around Lac La Biche County were showcased during the Let’s Connect Community Event, at the Bold Center sports fields. Hundreds of families took in the event that mixed volunteer sign-ups with community awareness, fun and games — and even a water dunk tank and inflatable play course.
Chenee Miller, a community outreach worker for Lac La Biche County Family Community Support Services (FCSS), stated that Let’s Connect is an information fair designed to give local residents an opportunity to engage with representatives from various community organizations and become informed about the programs and services they offer.
“Quite often, people aren’t even aware that many of these groups exist,” Miller told Lakeland This Week. “Let’s Connect is not a fundraiser, but rather a way to raise awareness, and encourage residents of Lac La Biche County to join organizations they are interested in or take advantage of volunteer opportunities.”
According to Miller, the Let’s Connect Community Event is a merger between the former CARE (Community Awareness Registration Event) and Community Appreciation Day, two long-running events in Lac La Biche County.
An array of community groups as well as nonprofit and governmental organizations
had tables and booths set up on the Bold Center sports fields, including Alberta Health Services Addictions and Mental Health, the Lac La Biche Museum, the local environmental group Healthy Waters, Lac La Biche Regional Humane Society, Lakeland Archers, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the William J. Cadzow Hospital Auxiliary, and Portage College.
Furthermore, the 2995 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps had a visible presence at the event, as did the Stuart MacPherson Public Library, the RCMP, and even a couple of local churches.
Let’s Connect also featured plenty of free food and entertainment. There was a puppet making workshop for children, face painting, a dunk tank, as well as a pull-ups challenge. Those who attended the event had the opportunity to listen to the country folk rock sounds of Plamondon-based trio Girlz with Guitarz while enjoying barbecued hamburgers served by members of the Lac La Biche Kinsmen and the Portage College Men’s hockey team.
Miller continued by saying that when planning the first-ever Let’s Connect event, organizers reached out to every community organization and group.
“We received a tremendous response, with so many people eager and willing to take part,” she said. “We’re hoping that this will become an annual event which will grow over time.”
Like many community organizations, the Lac La Biche Regional Humane Society is always on the lookout for volunteers, and at the Let’s Connect event, those who were interested signed up to help out, but also learn about other services offered by the local animal shelter.
“This is a fantastic way for community groups to not only promote themselves, but also raise awareness about what they do,” said MJ Siebold, vice-chair of the Lac La Biche Humane Society board. “We offer foster, rescue, and adoption programs for dogs and cats, as well as spay and neutering programs.”
The Lac La Biche 4-H Club was on a membership drive during the Let’s Connect Community Event, hoping to add more members to its ranks before the season begins in October.
“Currently, there are 11 members in our club,” said Jody Mae Brown, district chairperson of the Lac La Biche 4-H Club. “This event has given us the opportunity to not only speak with prospective members, but also explain to parents what their children will be involved in and what type of time commitment this will mean for them.”
Maureen Penn with Lac La Biche County Libraries was busy Friday evening chatting with attendees and letting them know that their local library has more to offer than just books.
“Right now, we have many reading programs for children, as well as services for seniors,” Penn explained while standing next to a very unique exhibit titled The Library of Things. “The Library of Things has many items that people can borrow, with the two most popular pieces being a sewing machine and a code reader for automobiles. Let’s Connect is very important because it is a great way for people, especially those who’ve recently moved to Lac La Biche, to see what our community has to offer.”
The event drew hundreds to the Bold Center fields, with the event wrapping up at 7:30 p.m. While the afternoon events went off without many glitches, an outdoor movie showing of Mario Bros. on the football field scoreboard had to be cancelled, due to technical difficulties.
