North Battleford's Centennial committee members were out in force at city hall Monday to promote their centennial activities in 2013.
Committee members were in the gallery decked out in green Centennial T-shirts, complete with the blue water tower Centennial logo.
The reason for their appearance was to ask for $50,000 in centennial funds, a resolution for exemption from the noise bylaw for their July 1 Canada Day celebration and for $5,000 from the Parks and Recreation budget for the fireworks at the 2013 Centennial Canada Day Celebrations. They also extended an invitation to Mayor Ian Hamilton and council to be the official cake servers for a May 1 event.
In the end council determined new resolutions were not needed to achieve what the committee was requesting, as council had already passed a resolution in 2012 approving $150,000 for the Centennial celebrations.
Council did, however, pass a resolution with respect to the $5,000 Canada Day request unanimously. Hamilton also pledged he and his councillors looked forward to being at the May 1 celebrations.
The centennial committee's appearance also provided an opportunity for them to update councillors on the activities and events that had already taken place and those still to come.
Committee chair Tammy Donahue-Buziak noted that both the Centennial Family Day and New Year's Party were successful on Dec. 31, as was the Centennial Winter Carnival Feb.3. She noted 850 people had attended the sold-out New Year's party at the Civic Centre and another 300 attended the winter carnival.
Still to come are the Centennial Seniors' Tea March 10, a free event to honour North Battleford's eldest citizens and also hear them share their memories of the history of the city.
The committee expects the biggest event of the calendar this year to be the Centennial Birthday Party on May 1. That event is scheduled for Centennial Park from 3:30 to 5:30 pm. Donahue-Buziak noted the committee hopes to replicate the 3,000 attendance that was seen in Central Park in 1988 for the 75th anniversary event that year. A time capsule from 1988 is also to be opened. The celebrations are to move to the Dekker Centre later that evening for a formal gala and theatre, with formal attire and early-1900s dress are called for on that night.
July 1 will see Centennial Canada Day Celebrations slated for Centennial Park, with opening ceremonies, pancake breakfasts and activities for the day, ending with the fireworks display that night.
Also part of those celebrations is a Centennial "Amazing Race" where participants will race to many locations throughout the city to complete their tasks.
The final event on the calendar is the Centennial Closing Ceremony Dec. 31, which will include the enclosure of a 100th-anniversary time capsule, as well as unveiling of a monument to future generations.
Councillors praised the work of the committee so far.
"I really enjoyed the New Year's Eve dance and celebration," said Greg Lightfoot.
Cathy Richardson also echoed the sentiments, saying "it's amazing everything that has been happening and going to happen."
Mayor Hamilton also acknowledged the work of the archives committee, who set up visual displays in area malls the previous week highlighting the history of the city.
