Canning Village Picnic in the Park 2014

Magical Balloon Creations by Bob Deveau (photo credit: Ann Rogers)

Canning’s annual Picnic in the Park, at Bruce Spicer Park on Sunday August 24, was an even greater success this year with over 300 people attending throughout the warm, sun-filled festive afternoon.

The afternoon kicked off with our very own Kings County District 1 Councillor Kim MacQuarrie welcoming all to the event and Village Crier Gary Long and his wife Sarah officially opening the Picnic. Music by the ever-popular Hilites, talented songstress and performer Samantha Power, and favourites Rewind energised the audience throughout the afternoon. Stephanie Wadden and Sarah Scott, both of Canning Recreation, animated children’s activities, which included face painting and the fish pond, and the Valley Credit Union graciously sponsored the immensely popular Bouncy Castle. We would also like to thank the Par-T-Perfect staff for the overseeing the Bouncy Castle and many thanks to magician Bob Deveau for doing the balloon creations, which all the children thoroughly enjoyed!

Local dignitaries and personalities (from left to right): Kings District 1 Councillor Kim McQuarrie, Kings North MLA John Lohr, pastry chef extraordinaire Joe MacLeod, Village Commission Chair Everett MacPherson, Princess Canning Kristen Bennett, and renowned village Town Crier Gary Long. (photo credit Anne Rogers)

The Canning Village Commission would like to thank the following fabulous people for their time and dedication in administering the event: Wanda & Blair Sheffield, Karen & Blaine North, Mike and Lynda Carter, Dwight Hines, Jeff Skaling, Terry Porter, and Ruth Pearson for the setup, cooking, serving, and clean-up for the event, and to Ruth Pearson for her herculean efforts in organizing the annual event. Free will donations totalling a total of $510 were accepted for the Canning Fire Dept. Building Fund and thanks to all who generously donated to this worthy cause. We would also like to thank this year’s Princess Canning Kristen Bennett and Child Attendant Hannah Lewis, as well as Kings North MLA John Lohr and Councillor Kim MacQuarrie for attending and promoting our magnificent Village. Thanks to Anne Rogers for her fabulous photography and a special thanks this year to pastry chef extraordinaire Joe MacLeod, a Village resident, for baking, decorating, and donating the beautiful (and delicious) cake for this year’s event. It was clear everyone thoroughly enjoyed his fabulous creation!

Canning Village Picnic 2014 cake by pastry chef Joe MacLeod (photo credit Anne Rogers)

This annual free fun-filled afternoon is possible because of the generous support received from some local businesses, residents, and the Municipality of Kings County. The Commission would like to thank the following for their generous donations: the Municipality of the County of Kings, Atlantic Superstore, Sobeys, Blaine and Karen North, Canning Auto, MacDonald Chisholm Trask Insurance, DeGraaf’s Kwikway, Al’s Fireside Café, Canning Village Meat Market, Art Can Gallery, Maple Leaf Home Hardware, Nova Agri/Blueberry Acres, Denise Aspinall, Cochrane’s Pharmasave, Canning Fire Dept., Canning & District Lions Club, Lee’s Creative Activities, Joe MacLeod, Anne Rogers, The Stamping Room, Valley Credit Union, Frito Lay Canada and Wilmar Farms. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Jeff Skaling Deputy Fire Chief (photo credit Anne Rogers)

Navaeh Bernard (right) and Sarah Scott (left) of Canning and District Recreation (photo credit Anne Rogers)

Town Crier Gary Long (photo credit Anne Rogers)

See you next summer!