COVID-19 isn’t going to spoil a milestone birthday for Ladner’s signature weekend event.
While the pandemic will prevent thousands from gathering over three days at Memorial Park for the second straight year, volunteers have been hard at work to make sure the 125th edition of Ladner May Days will still be special. They are leaning on the fair’s rich history to create a virtual celebration that will be presented for viewing on a revamped website and the Ladner May Days’ official Facebook page.
“It’s about sharing the knowledge with the community and bringing them altogether on it,” explained May Days committee volunteer Missy Coghill. “Since it’s our 125th year, there were plans for big things of course, but with everything it’s going to be a little bit different. We are also doing a virtual parade, having entertainment that people can watch online. Printing off some stuff to do with their kids and families.”
Coghill also happens to oversee the May Royal Court that crowns the Ladner May Queen and her princesses. That will also take place virtually and will recognize the past two years.
“We will be going through the schools and asking kids to send in a small photo or video of themselves, then will be compiling all of them,” she continued. “We felt kids from last year still need to get a chance to participate, so each Delta school will have two representatives, a Grade 6 (2021) and Grade 7 (2020).”
The committee has already received terrific responses from past May Queens and princesses that will be part of the 125th year celebration.
Submissions are welcomed via email at: [email protected] right up until a week before the virtual fair.
“It’s been kind of amazing so far with lots of people having reached out to us,” added Coghill. “We have someone in her 80s who was a May Queen or a princess and from the 100th anniversary as well. It’s basically anything from their time and they have stories to tell too of how it was done back then.”
Coghill added there have been additional submissions, such as photos from the May Days Parade back in the 1940s and 1950s. All is welcomed and will presented via slide shows.
