2021/2022 has been a great year for the Bayou Park Ratepayers Association (BPRA). Our community came together around some very well received events including
the Annual Spooky Spectacle Pumpkin Walk,
the Holiday Craft Market,
the Home for the Holidays: Festive Lights Contest,
our first Easter Egg Hunt,
the Meet The Neighbours social & Kids Learn to Paddle session, and now
the AGM and our second annual Outdoor Movie Night!
Our most successful event had to be the August Family Fun Day & BBQ. We had over 100 people attend and all were happy to be back together after a year of social distancing and isolation. The day started with a fantastic all-you-can-eat breakfast and bake sale. In the afternoon, families enjoyed the beach and children had fun in the bouncy castle, while our Horseshoe Tournament participants got competitive and members perused the raffle table, which was packed with prizes. The day was capped off with members and their friends & family enjoying a delicious pig roast BBQ, followed by Lance Brown's classic fireworks show. We raised $2,785.59 for the BPRA through the proceeds of the day.
A big factor in enabling this fantastic year was the dedication of our Executive Board:
Treasurer Rick Talbot,
Secretary Natasha Borutski (now on maternity leave & missed!),
Communications Director Amanda Stewart,
Acting Secretary Erica Lomonaco,
Director at Large Bruce Topping,
our Events Committee Angela Foster and Louis McIntyre, and
Past President Lance Brown.
A sincere thank you to Rick, Natasha, Amanda, Erica, Bruce, Angela, Louis, and Lance for your commitment to the association over the past year! This summer marks the end of the two-year term for President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Director at Large. We welcome and need members to get involved and volunteer their time with the BPRA Executive Team to keep this great community organization going!
We are very grateful to our members who helped with Fall and Spring clean up at the Beach Park. I’d also like to thank the volunteers who mow and trim the lawn, as well as the members who deliver our printed newsletters. The park and the waterfront is beautiful - and visited more 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 by participating in our events and initiatives and paying their annual membership fee. Membership fees pay for the Bayou Beach Park's maintenance, property tax, and insurance, and ensure the Beach Park property is available to our community for future generations to come.
We had 128 households participate in our Membership Campaign July 1st Early Bird Draw, and awarded 6 great prizes! Following that, members continued to show their support through payment of their annual fee: As of Sunday, July 10th, we had 136 member households in good standing out of approximately 228 households in the neighbourhood, or 60%. This is a decrease from last year’s numbers by 25 households and we encourage the remaining residents to show their support by becoming members or renewing their membership.
Finally, mark your calendars - the Family Fun Day & BBQ is being held on Saturday, August 20th. This is an annual tradition loved by many in the neighbourhood and our major fundraiser. Please join us on that day for Brunch and the BBQ! Ticket sales will open soon!
Thank you!
Claire Lysnes,
Bayou Park Ratepayers Association President