Another Successful Picnic!

While there’s still lots of summer left to enjoy, the OLRA recently wrapped up the 2015-16 season with our annual picnic and general meeting. We couldn’t have asked for better weather for the picnic and it was wonderful to see both familiar and new faces joining in the fun.

As always, Susan Eccleshall did an outstanding job of organizing an event that has long been a fun-filled summer tradition for many Orr Lake families. Some of those families - the Moffitt and Woods families in particular – consistently give of themselves and we owe our sincere thanks for their donations of prizes, funds and time. We are also indebted to local businesses that sponsored the raffle. Please be sure to reward their generosity with your patronage. These include A’s Fish & Chips, B2’s Pizza, Coffee Time, Corner Cut Salon, Elm Flower Shoppe, Elmvale Foodland, Elmvale McDonald’s, Food Forest, G&S Computers, Georgian Bay Living, Nanny’s Bloomers, Orr Lake Golf Club, Steeler’s Restaurant and Pub, TD Canada Trust, The Village Shoppe, and Twice Around Thrift Store.

A special thank you to Elmvale Home Hardware for their donation of materials for the ever popular nail drive, and to Stefaniuk Precision Carpentry Design & Renovations for providing ice and propane supplies for the BBQ.

Music plays a huge part in setting the festive mood, and the microphone is a necessary component too. Many thanks to Joe Boffo and family who kindly allow use of their hydro to power our sound system.

We are able to share the big-heartedness of all these great donors only with the help of a hardworking team of volunteers. We would be well and truly lost without their contributions of time and effort. A greatly deserved pat on the back to community helpers Jack Beyfuss, Paul Byrne, Charlie Digaudio, Tony & Margaret Eccleshall, Betsy MacDonald, Ernest Stefaniuk, and Ruth Woodcock. The help of local students is also invaluable. Thanks to Tom Deas, Scott Huggard, Colby Scott, and Delaney Scott for proving that the spirit of giving is alive and well among the younger people in our community. The success of this year’s picnic is a credit to you all!

Last but certainly not least on our list of those to thank are our executive volunteers. Their efforts this season brought us increased membership and more frequent communication through various media, which helped to raise attendance numbers at the picnic. They also gave their time to canvassing for raffle donations, shopping for food supplies, staffing the races, and more. A huge thank you to Sonia Kadela, Nick Heintz, Matt & Stephanie McKeown and Louise McGonigal for helping to make our annual event run so smoothly.

A new addition to this year’s line-up was the presence of Mabel Moon Face Painting. Nearly all the kids and a few adults waited patiently for their turn and soon filled the park with Ninja Turtles, kitty cats, dragons, flower children and more. Mabel’s work is outstanding and we’ve already booked her to return next year. Be sure to check out her website, mabelmoon.com to add a fun twist to your next event.

If you missed this year’s picnic, just remember that it is always held on the Sunday of the August long weekend. Residents and cottagers alike often host family and friends at this time, and the picnic is a great way to let us help you entertain.

At this year’s AGM we were pleased to welcome our guests Mayor Bill French, Councillor Perry Ritchie, and Aisha Chiandet of the Severn Sound Environmental Association. Be sure to watch for our next post when we’ll recap the highlights of the meeting.