A sold-out fundraising event, hosted by the Kamsack Recreation Board was held recently at the OCC Hall in Kamsack.
On February 14 around 180 guests attended Date Night, and just over $16,000 was raised in support of the Kamsack swimming pool expansion, according to Shanley Allard, recreation director for the Town of Kamsack.
“We couldn’t be prouder of our community for coming together to support our event,” said Allard. “The rec board put in countless hours preparing for Date Night, so its success is definitely a pat on the back to each of our members!”
Date Night consisted of a four-course meal and entertainment by the Canadian duo of Brian Burn and Jamie Mahn, who go by the name Burn ‘N’ Mahn. They performed their interactive, all-request piano show, Dueling Pianos Extreme, and “really had the audience captivated,” Allard said.
“The performers took requests from the audience and played everything from AC/DC to country music. The feedback on the entertainment was nothing but positive. They really put on quite a show, complete with laser lights and an assortment of different instruments.”
The performers were said to be “very impressed” with the Kamsack audience and donated all of their tips from the show, a total of $750, to the swimming pool project.
“The elegant four-course meal was prepared by Darrell Lomenda,” Allard continued. “It boasted of mouth-watering appetizers, a specialty strawberry spinach salad, followed by a main course of delicious chicken saltimbocca, seasonal veggies and rice pilaf, topped off with a dessert of raspberry caramel cake. The meal was definitely a treat!
“Darrell spent countless hours and donated all of his time in preparing the meal to help with the fundraiser, and it was a huge factor in the success of the evening,” she said.
“A few of our past lifeguards and community members volunteered their time to help serve and everything went smoothly.
“The event included a silent auction table with many prize donations from local businesses. It was great to see businesses and community groups pull together to help us fundraise for the swimming pool.”
The 50/50 draw winner was Dana Grieve, who took home $715.
The evening offered Safe Rides home with the help of SGI and members of the Kamsack Volunteer Fire Department.
“Date Night was a very successful event and we applaud the support we received from our community coming together to help raise money,” said Allard. “We are making progress on reaching our fundraising goals and that would not be possible without this tremendous support. The goal is to have the ‘new’ swimming pool open for the 2020 season, and a large portion of that expansion paid for by our fundraising dollars,” Allard concluded.
The rec board launched the Dive In Campaign near the end of 2019, when it was announced that an expansion to the existing pool was underway. For more information or make a donation, please visit the Town of Kamsack website at http://www.kamsack.ca/dive-in.html.
