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Kinsmen remembering with fireworks this year
The Kinsmen Club of Windermere Valley has hosted the Columbia Valley’s annual Canada Day Fireworks show for over 25 years and this year is set for Saturday, June 30. Expectations are for record crowds in the valley with all ages here to celebrate Canada Day and take in the big show.
The Kinsmen are a group of 12 men from the community who donate their time to raise money and give back to the community’s greatest needs, and we are always looking for volunteers and support for our projects, which include the Canada Day Fireworks, the brainchild of former member Tom Sanders.
“Tom was the idea guy in the Kinsmen Club, and one of his many ideas was, “Let’s host a Fireworks for Canada Day.” Sadly, we lost him in 1998,” said Steve Mantyka, Kinsmen Club of Windermere Valley Fireworks co-chair.
“Twenty years later, his legacy lives on with the spectacular show, with folks lining Lake Windermere to catch a glimpse of the fireworks.
“On Saturday, as the fireworks light up the sky, we will remember Guy Rouleau, who passed away earlier this year, and who was a key member of the Kinsmen Club for many, many years. His spirit will live on in these fireworks, putting a smile on faces as he did for so many years, volunteering for the community, especially during the Kinsmen Easter Egg Hunt,” noted Chris Van Mulligen, fireworks co-chair.
The fireworks display is locally funded, with help from the District of Invermere, RDEK and local businesses and the public donating to the celebration.
If you enjoy the fireworks show, the Kinsmen politely ask folks to donate toward them via coin boxes located in businesses throughout Invermere, or mail a donation to them at Box 2039, Invermere, B.C., V0A 1K0 or drop a donation off at Local View Printing & Design in Invermere’s Industrial Park.
The Kinsmen will also have a fundraising barbecue on Saturday, June 30 at Home Hardware, so drop by and get a bratwurst and a pop or make a donation.
The fireworks display will blast off just after midnight on June 30, once the trains have passed safely through the blasting area.
The fireworks will be set off just east of the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena in Invermere.
The Kinsmen would like to thank CPR for generously allowing them to use their property as the launch pad.
“Also a huge thanks to the Invermere Fire Department for being on stand by, to keep us all safe,” Mantyka added.
The best places to see the show are beside the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena, Lakeview Road on the east side of Lake Windermere, James Chabot Beach at the north end of the lake, or from one of the many boats that anchor on the lake each year.
“Thank you everyone, for your generous contributions to the show,” said Van Mulligen.
“On behalf of the Kinsmen Club of Windermere Valley, we look forward to seeing you at midnight on Saturday, June 30 for another great show to kick-off Canada Day 2018 in the Columbia Valley! This one’s for Guy!” The co-chairs stated.
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