Thomas Koet had this concept mapped out prior to the competition starting. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

community spirit

Generous Parksville Beach Festival donations leads to record amount going to local groups

Oct 13, 2023 | 11:33 AM

PARKSVILLE — Donations poured into this year’s Parksville Beach Festival Sand Sculpting Competition like never before.

Organizers from the summer staple event in Oceanside presented $79,800 in cheques to 25 different local organizations in the region on Friday, Oct. 13, for their work in welcoming visitors to the annual event at Parksville Community Park.

Cheryl Dill, president of the Parksville Beach Festival Society, told NanaimoNewsNOW they’re always gobsmacked at the generosity of those who donate at the door before heading in to see the artist’s work.

“This is our favourite day, we wish to honour all the volunteers that put over 2,700 hours into greeting all the visitors that come through the gate to showcase the fantastic artistry that we had in the sand this year.”

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Donations, roughly 25 per cent of all gate receipts, are awarded to community groups based on how many of the 114 available shifts they are able to fill.

Funds then go to support niche projects from each of the groups which have a wide-reaching, positive impact in the Oceanside community.

Dill said the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the not-for-profit groups locally is astounding.

“When we give away those funds, those groups in turn tell us what they’re going to do to pay it forward with those funds. It really is a heartwarming day when we hear all the stories about how those donations all the way from the Sand Sculpting gate get into our community to help those in need.”

This year’s event saw over 108,000 visitors through the gates, which was down on 2022’s attendance.

A complete list of groups receiving funds this year is:

1. Bowser Seniors Housing Society
2. Catspan
3. Deep Bay Fire/Rescue Society
4. Forward House Community Society
5. Fraternal Order of Eagles 3922
6. Hub International (they donated their sum back to groups)
7. Knights of Columbus Ascension Council 7991
8. Knox United Church
9. Lions Club of Parksville Mid Vancouver Island
10. Habitat Enhancement Society
11. Oceanside Community Arts Council/McMillan Arts Centre
12. Oceanside Community Safety
13. Oceanside Hospice Society
14. Oceanside Stroke Recovery Society
15. Parksville Curling Club
16. Parksville Lawn Bowling Club
17. Parksville Qualicum Adult Literacy Society
18. Parksville Quilt House Quilter’s Guild
19. Parksville Quilters (part of nationwide Victoria’s Quilts)
20. Parksville-Qualicum Elks #589
21. Preceptor Delta Zeta
22. Qualicum & District Curling Club
23. Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach
24. Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary Parksville #49
25. Sources Community Resources Society

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