We had to vote. For the right. To party!
Two weeks ago, Creston area residents and supporters cast 171,142 votes to help the Therapeutic Riding Program win $25,000 in the Kraft Celebration Tour. The victory celebration will be as big as the voting effort when a crew of 40 from Kraft Canada and TSN arrive in Creston for a huge community party and live broadcast of SportsCentre on Aug. 17.
“Creston should be very proud of the effort that went into winning this competition,” said Therapeutic Riding Program co-ordinator Michelle Whiteaway. “To bring in the vote, the world was spread far and wide, across Canada and around the globe.”
The riding program, operated by Creston and District Society for Community Living, uses horses as therapists to help people with mental, emotional and/or physical disabilities gain a host of benefits.
A co-ordinated 24-hour effort helped Creston outpoll the Kimberley Nordic Club by nearly 30,000 votes. Ten communities across Canada will be winners in the Kraft Celebration Tour, but Creston has the distinction of being the first stop.
“This is great feather in our community cap,” said Mayor Ron Toyota. “The organizers did a tremendous job and the $25,000 will be greatly appreciated by therapeutic riding, which is an amazing program. Everyone who voted is to be congratulated.”
Toyota is part of a community group now charged with organizing a barbecue, funded by Kraft, and party in conjunction with the festivities.
“Every vote mattered,” Whiteaway said, “from people who stopped into the College of the Rockies voting centre to vote once or twice and especially those dedicated voters who literally spent hours and hours deciphering the Captcha (a code designed to prevent automated voting) in order to submit each vote.
“Many people in Creston and beyond complained of repetitive stress pain and sore eyes in the days after the vote!”
“I want to thank you for one of the greatest gifts of all — a few moments of your time,” organizer Myrna Johnson told voters.
The community party will run from 1-4:30 p.m. and feature a Kraft-sponsored hotdog and hamburger barbecue, samples of Kraft products and plenty of family-friendly games and activities.
TSN hosts Darren Dutchyshen and Kate Beirness will broadcast SportsCentre live from Creston from 3-4 p.m.
“Being the first stop on the Kraft Celebration Tour will give Creston the opportunity to showcase its community spirit to the rest of Canada,” Whiteaway said. “Community organizations are encouraged to participate in the event by setting up a booth to promote awareness or collect donations. Local sports, arts and culture groups are welcome to put on displays or demonstrations. This is Creston’s party. Let’s do it up big!”
A party that could attract more than 1,000 people needs volunteers and anyone wishing to help can contact Whiteaway at gocreston@hotmail.com or 250-402-6793. For updates on the celebration, go to gocreston.ca.