On Parliament Hill

Community festival time is again upon us as we head into the warmer days of summer.

This past weekend I was pleased to participate in the Oakbank Chickendaze parade as well as the Old Tyme Country Fair parade in Niverville. Residents of both communities came out in large numbers to check out the floats and enjoy the nice weather as the rain held off this year.

There are many more upcoming community festivals across southeast Manitoba this summer and these celebrations are one of the things that makes representing a rural riding so special. Many of my colleagues in Ottawa represent ridings in large urban areas and they often tell me that they are amazed at the number of community events we have here in Provencher, not only in summer, but indeed year round. Provencher is a very large riding, extending from Winnipeg to the Ontario border, and some of the festivals happen simultaneously. This makes it impossible for me to attend all of them in the riding but I do try to visit as many as I can each summer.

We are fortunate that we have so many vibrant communities here in Provencher and summertime gives us the opportunity to celebrate our rich history, diverse natural and cultural heritage, strong values and many accomplishments. These community festivals give us the opportunity to meet up with not only our friends and neighbours, but also with people who travel from a distance to take part in the festivities. Often they serve as a catalyst for families to reunite with other family members who have long since moved away.

However, these community events would not be possible without the incredible hard work of the many volunteers behind the scenes. Their dedication year in and year out should never be taken for granted and I’d like to personally thank them for all that they do to keep their communities strong.

I encourage everyone to participate in their local community events as these special occasions help keep the community bond strong and the history and heritage alive.

I hope to see you on the festival trail this summer!