Waste Connections of Canada has stepped forward with a $15,000 donation to ensure that this year’s Canada Day Fireworks show in Chatham will take place.
The company, which operates the Ridge Landfill site and provides waste collection and recycling throughout the municipality, responded to a request from Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope.
”I received a call from Mayor Hope asking if there was anything we could do,” said Waste Connections Project Manager Cathy Smith in a media release.” We pride ourselves on being a partner in the community so we are more than happy to be able to help out,”
Mayor Hope said he reached out to the Canada Day Committee after he heard the fireworks show was in jeopardy.
“Committee members were working hard at finding a sponsor but hadn’t had any luck,” he said. “I didn’t want to see the community disappointed after such a good show last year for Canada 150 so I did what I could.”
Initially Waste Connections didn’t want to get in the way of preparations by publicizing their role, but the mayor knew how much the fireworks mean to the community and believed Waste Connections deserved recognition because of the firm’s continued support of Chatham-Kent.
“We have many companies in Chatham-Kent who step forward and support the community,” he said. “They deserve our thanks and recognition for all of the good they do.”
Don Kiekens, chair of the Chatham Canada Day 2018 committee said the contribution means a lot.
“Even though we had to postpone last year’s fireworks due to rain, we still had about 4,000 people come out,” he said. “The show is about 25 minutes long and the company that does our show is the same one used for the Freedom Festival in Windsor.”
Kiekens said the committee is still looking for volunteers for various portions of the event.
“Even if you don’t have a lot of time, you can come out and get a taste of what we do and join the committee for next year,’ he said.
Volunteers can contact the group through its Facebook page at Chatham Canada Day.
Canada Day celebrations will kick off Saturday at St. Clair College on Bear Line with the fireworks display at 9:45 p.m.
July 1 will feature a parade beginning at 10:30 a.m. The parade will start on Dover Street, cross the Third Street Bridge, follow King Street to William Street and end at Branch 642 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Tecumseh Park will be the scene of celebrations throughout the day.
There will be food and merchandise vendors throughout the park and Evangel Community Church has donated $5,000 for children’s entertainment including a bouncy castle.
There will also be a multicultural stage.
There will be a full slate of musical entertainment including the Chasers at 2 p.m., Snake Bite at 4 p.m. and Toast and Jam at 7 p.m.
The event wraps up at 9 p.m.
