ESTEVAN — The Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre (EEYFRC) hosted its annual Kick-Off to Summer Family Party on June 26, drawing a crowd of about 400 attendees. The event, held at the EEYFRC, featured a variety of activities and attractions for families.
"Honestly, it couldn't have gone any better," said Sydney Wanner, executive director of EEYFRC. "We had around 400 people come out. The Estevan Humane Society was there and sold out of taco-in-a-bag. The youth centre [Estevan Public Youth Centre] was able to sell a lot of their frozen treats, and the Souris Valley Museum sold cotton candy, which was a huge hit."
This year's event marked the third annual summer party and saw the highest attendance to date.
"It was even better attended than last year. We couldn't have asked for a better turnout," Wanner added.
The party included a petting zoo, face painting and a visit from a local EMT with an ambulance, allowing children to explore and learn in a less intimidating setting.
"He just let the kids climb in, making it a little less scary experience, so that was awesome," Wanner said.
The event also featured various outdoor games and indoor activities. RBC representatives were also out to help and support the centre's initiatives.
"We had a bunch of outside games and activities inside the centre as well," Wanner noted. "We were also lucky enough to have RBC come out and help us, and they gave us a donation after, so it was a great day."
The Kick-Off to Summer Family Party catered to a wide range of ages from babies to older kids.
"It's very age-friendly," Wanner noted.
The annual party serves as both a thank you to the families who participate in EEYFRC programs and an opportunity to engage the community.
"We love having big, free events like this for our families. A lot of families aren't able to come during the day all the time, so we just wanted to give back to them a little bit," Wanner explained.
The positive feedback from the community was overwhelming.
"A lot of the families came up to us and thanked us for doing all these events for them," Wanner shared. "And we love doing it."
Wanner also thanked the community and the collaborating organizations.
"Thank you so much to the community for the support they give us all the time, and to the other organizations for coming out. We're incredibly lucky to be a part of such a supportive community."
