Image: L. Gomes / PML / A mom and her two boys posing at the slip 'n' slide.

By Laurice Gomes

Community festival

‘It really is all about community’: Chilliwack festival brings a little bit of business and a whole lot of pleasure

Jul 10, 2022 | 3:49 PM

CHILLIWACK — It was mostly play and some business at the Chilliwack Summer Reconnect Festival on Sunday afternoon.

Organizers of the event from Chilliwack Community Services said the event was the first of its kind and hoped to see around 600 people in attendance.

One of the organizers, Nicola Esau, a youth engagement worker with Chilliwack Community Services, said the aim was to make the festival an annual one.

Image: L. Gomes / PML / Nicola Esau (on the right) with another Chilliwack Community Services team member.

“This is so we can have different members of the community come together and show the different resources available,” Esau said. “And also, just have a good time, and reconnect as a community.”

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Trevor Johnson, a program coordinator with Chilliwack Community Services, said the event was a reflection of what the non-profit stands for.

“This event is our philosophy—we’re collective impact,” Johnson said. “Our leadership table is made up of individuals from non-profits, the business sector, youth, as well as government. And so, what we’ve tried to do is basically incorporate those four things into everything we do.”

True to its tenets, the festival had various booths set up by local companies offering employment opportunities. Simultaneously, the event bustled with vibrant activity, and somewhere in the near distance, the sounds of skateboards hitting concrete ramps could be heard.

Image: L. Gomes / PML / A skateboarder showing off his moves on the ramp.

“That’s why there are all these recreational activities going on,” Johnson explained. “But at the same time, we’re also reaching out to service providers, to employers in the community, and to sporting organizations.”

Adding to Johnson’s statement, Esau said the Huskers football team volunteered with the slip ‘n’ slide and a water fight at the festival.

“Hopefully Chilliwack’s biggest water fight,” Esau said. “And we will also be having a Holi festival as well—it’s pretty much a colour fight, and so it should be fun.”

Bob Reist, head coach of the Valley Huskers, proudly looked on as his football team prepared the slip ‘n’ slide for use, cheering on young kids as they slid down the plastic sheet.

Image: L. Gomes / PML / The Valley Huskers volunteered to look after the slip ‘n’ slide.

Image: L. Gomes / PML / The slip ‘n’ slide was a popular attraction at the event.

“We’re helping out with the kids doing the slip ‘n’ slide,” Reist said. “It’s a great event with everything going on, and we’re just excited to be a part of it.”

Johnson said that people are always looking for activities to do with their families, so hosting the Chilliwack Summer Reconnect Festival seemed like the perfect opportunity to forge new relationships with the community.

“Winter was cold and lonely, spring was wet and cold, and summer is finally here,” Johnson said, laughing. “We’re just trying to build community; it really is all about community.”

Image: L. Gomes / PML / Food trucks such as Kona Ice were on the site.