Get ready to rally in the alley. The first annual Rally in the Alley will be held on September 14 from 4-8 p.m.
Justine Lutz, organizer of the event, says it started when Laurie Renton noticed that the alley between Betts Ave. and First Ave. was well suited to hosting an event, which was the seed that grew into the event itself. The businesses that are located on the alley started working together to organize an event in the space, which became Rally in the Alley. Other community businesses also began to pitch in at the event.
“It’s been really awesome seeing the support come together.”
Highlights of the afternoon include the opportunity to meet two Roughriders, Miss Teen Saskatchewan and the YRHS Raiders. There will be food, cotton candy, popcorn, kids games, live music, balloon animals and henna tattoos. Everything at the event is free for the kids.
“Provided everything goes well, and I’m sure that it will, we will definitely be looking at having it regularly each year.”
Organizing the event has brought together the businesses in the area together on the street, and Lutz says it has been amazing getting the wide range of business owners together for the project.
“It’s been really wonderful connecting with the up and coming generation of business owners and seeing where their values are and where they would like to help and contribute.”
The event will raise money for the Yorkton Community Centre, a new facility in Yorkton’s downtown to assist people in getting help and get channeled to resources within the city. Lutz describes it as a hub to get people to the resources they need. The goal is to raise $100,000 total, with the Rally in the Alley being the kickoff to the project.
“They want to work with other groups and organizations in town and build on them. Not to overcrowd or do anything different, but work with other partners in the community and grow stronger.”
The idea for the centre came from Pastor Mark Lautamus from the Yorkton Victory Church, inspired by working with people in his church and trying to help them access services. Lutz says this experience demonstrated there was a need for the kind of services the Yorkton Community Centre will offer.
“They really found that they wanted to fill those voids in our community.”
Lutz expects that the building of the Community Centre will be like hosting Rally in the Alley, bringing a diverse section of the community together towards the common goal and trying something new and exciting with it.
