There will be an Aldergrove Fair next year.
Former fair president Robin McIntosh made the announcement following a Tuesday night, Nov. 14 meeting to decide whether the 111-year old annual event would have to be called off because of a shortage of volunteers.
鈥淚t will be happening,鈥� McIntosh told the 91原创 Advance Times, because enough people responded to the call for help.
鈥淲e were ready to cancel,鈥欌�� McIntosh explained.
鈥淲e just had to have people step up.鈥�
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As a result, the fair now has a full slate of nine volunteer directors, and close to a full slate of 28 volunteers to handle advance planning.
鈥淲e identified 14 key positions, and we鈥檙e trying to get two for each one [to prevent burnout], so that鈥檚 28 positions,鈥� McIntosh said.
鈥淲e currently have around 22 people who are committed, so that means we鈥檙e only short about six people.鈥�
Karen Long, the new fair president, was pleased to see people stepping up.
鈥淣ew people, new energy, new ideas, new skills, it鈥檚 all very good,鈥� Long remarked.
Long estimated she has been involved with the non-profit society that puts on the fair, the , since the 鈥渓ate 1990s.鈥�
鈥淭he fair鈥檚 been going on since 1912, and in my mind, there is absolutely no way that we can cancel it,鈥� Long commented. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something that the community looks forward to, it鈥檚 a family event, it helps all the businesses [and] it鈥檚 great for tourism.鈥�
READ ALSO: Overworked and burning out: a plea for help from Aldergrove Fair volunteers
McIntosh was glad to see Long take over, saying 鈥渟he鈥檚 going to be great, because she鈥檚 been around the fair for quite a few years. It makes my transition a lot easier [because] the organization鈥檚 moving forward in good hands.鈥�
The former president said he will 鈥渂e around to help out where I can, but I really want to be more in advisory role.鈥�
Anyone interested in getting involved with the Aldergrove Fair can email president@aldergrovefair.ca, or connect through the fair website at or Facebook at .
Most non-profit groups are having difficulty finding volunteers.
A survey by Statistics Canada, released late last year, found 60 per cent of organizations reported difficulty in recruiting and retaining volunteers. About 30 per cent of organizations have had to change or close programs, or shut down altogether, because they can鈥檛 find enough volunteers.
Organizations like Volunteer Canada, YWCA, Habitat for Humanity, and smaller groups like Caravan Farm Theatre in B.C. all report the number of volunteers dropped during the pandemic, and has not recovered.
A released early last year suggested the COVID aftermath has made health and safety risks a concern for a many volunteers, especially seniors. It showed 22 per cent of those surveyed 鈥渟topped volunteering altogether during the pandemic.鈥�
In B.C. several fall fairs reported problems finding volunteers this year, including the Comox Valley Exhibition in Courtenay, which had less than half the 100 volunteers required, and the Alberni District Fall Fair in Port Alberni, where a shortage was being blamed for volunteer burnout.
