2020/2021 has been a great year for the Bayou Park Ratepayers Association (BPRA), despite the ups and downs occurring in the world around us. Our community came together around the Home for the Holidays: Festive Lights Contest, the Valentine's Day Gift Card Fundraiser, our Easter Bake Sale and Kids Colouring Contest, the Meet The Neighbours social, the Community Garage Sale, and now the AGM and our first ever Outdoor Movie Night!
We are very grateful to our members who helped with Fall and Spring clean up at the Beach Park, whether it was manual labour or loaning your rototiller. I’d also like to thank the numerous volunteers who mow and trim the lawn, as well as the members who deliver our printed newsletters. The park and the waterfront is more beautiful - and frequented - than ever, thanks to our volunteers’ hard work and dedication! Also, a big thank-you goes to those members who supported the BPRA this year with generous donations from their local businesses.
Many long-time and new members have engaged with the BPRA this year by participating in our events and initiatives and paying their annual membership fee. We have 161 member households in good standing out of approximately 220 households in the neighbourhood, or 72%. We have exceeded last year’s membership numbers by 11 households and we are currently inviting the remaining residents to become members through door to door visits. Since the BPRA was established in 1973, there has been a strong community spirit in our neighbourhood and a shared passion for our Beach Park, and it is great to know, in these trying times, how many of you value the priceless waterfront space we have.
A big factor in enabling this fantastic year was the dedication of our Executive Board: Treasurer Rick Talbot, former Secretary and now Events Coordinator Kait Hunter, Communications Director Hillary Kimsal, former Director at Large and now Secretary Natasha Borutski, Director at Large Bruce Topping, Past President Lance Brown, and last but not least, Vice President Neil Fenton, who I am sad to say is leaving his role on the Executive. A sincere thank you to Neil, Rick, Hillary, Kait, Natasha, Bruce and Lance for your commitment to the association over the past year! Neil, you will be missed!
I would like to do a special call-out to Rick for his efforts in organizing & shoring up the association’s finances and administrative matters, and to Hillary for the time she committed to expanding our communication channels beyond mail drops to emails, social media, and our website blog, engaging many more residents in our community through these touchpoints!
Finally, the Family Fun Day & BBQ is being held on Saturday, August 28th! This is an annual tradition our members missed last summer, and our major fundraiser. We are excited to bring this event back for your enjoyment - please join us on that day for Brunch and the BBQ!
Thank you!
Claire Lysnes,
Bayou Park Ratepayers Association President
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