The organizers of the Red Feather 60th Anniversary Reunion wanted you to party like it’s 1999… or 1955 for that matter.
But unfortunately, the United Way of Chatham-Kent announced the cancellation of the event, citing lack of ticket sales.
“It appears that the enthusiasm exhibited by the members of the planning committee did not translate into ticket sales for our Red Feather 60th Reunion,” said Karen Kirkwood-Whyte, United Way’s CEO in a media release. “As a result, we have decided to cancel the event and redirect our energies to other special events and initiatives planned during our fall campaign period.”
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The event was to take place Oct. 3 at the site of Blairs’ Boot Camp in the former McKeough School on Forest Street in Chatham.
TVCogeco – the event’s sponsor has offered to transfer its sponsorship to a future United Way fundraising event.
Anita Markert, a member of the organizing committee, said Baby Boomers made up a huge demographic of who the organizers had anticipated would attend the reunion.
“For all of us who grew up here, the United Way’s Red Feather weekend meant a lot to us,” she said. “We loved our music and we love to dance.”
Markert said her generation lived and breathed Red Feather as soon as they returned to classes in the fall.
“When you went back to school, you zoomed into Red Feather. Everyone pulled together on it. It was something that was authentically embraced,” she said. “We all have some great memories about it.”
That includes working during spare periods on getting parade floats ready, taking part in zany games, or watching the signature Red Feather football game, and attending the dance.
