If the Pumpkin Walk is going to continue another business, or organization is going to have to spearhead it.
That is what Town of Barrhead councillors learned at their May 8 meeting when chief administrative officer Martin Taylor said the Co-op will no longer be organizing the event.
In a letter dated May 2, signed by the Pembina West Co-op team it states that due to its many projects, most notably the construction of a new food store slated for completion in the early fall, they will not be able to plan the event.
“We understand that this is an important event for our community, but we cannot give it the attention that it deserves at this time,” the letter states.
The letter goes on to say while the Co-op can’t take the lead, they are willing to assist any group that takes on the responsibility.
Deputy mayor Dausen Kluin, who is council’s rep on the Barrhead and District Chamber of Commerce, said he would ask the organization if they are willing to take over planning the event.
“It’s a pretty big deal. I know last year I stood in line for more than an hour so I could walk down the path,” he said.
Coun. Ty Assaf said while he is disappointed the Co-op isn’t going to take the lead he understands the reasoning behind it and is confident someone will step up.
“We have seen this before, when the Barrhead Leader stepped back from taking the lead role in the Street Festival everyone said ‘oh no who is going to step up”, he said, adding someone did. “There is no question in my mind that a group will step forward and take the reigns. I just also want to add my kudos to Pembina West Co-op for doing such a fantastic job of organizing the event for the last 11 years.”
Pembina West Co-op started the popular event 11-years ago when manager Allan Cote noticed Barrhead did not have any family-friendly, safe alternatives to trick-or-treating so he came up with the idea where children could walk down a path of jack-o-lanterns carved by school children. The path would lead the trick-or-treaters to individual stations where they would be given a treat.
For the first two years, the booths were manned by the various Co-op departments, but quickly expanded to involve the whole community.
Last year the event was moved to the Barrhead Sports Grounds from the Paddle River Golf Course because the event outgrew its location and it is estimated between 4,000 and 6,000 people attended the walk.
