KidSport Delta Huge Success

Given all the sports we at Sportswave cover there are two that stand and not listed in any particular order are marked on my calendar as soon as we have the dates confirmed by both groups.

The KidSport Delta event normally takes place the later part of April with the other event we look forward to covering is the Delta Sports Hall of Fame which is scheduled for the later part of October with both benefiting the community of Delta.

The first which just wrapped up this past weekend is the Delta Kidsport Gala which is normally held at Tsawwassen Springs in the Ball Room and has been for the past few years but this year was a welcome change.

Not sure who came up with the idea for the change from a formal setting with everyone wearing a shirt and tie to a “Down and Dirty Cowboy Theme” held at the Boundary Bay Airport in the main hangar.

Prior to leading up to the event I had a chance to get the “digs” from various members of the community on their thoughts with some having mixed reviews while others welcomed the idea considering that Delta’s a farming community.

Think what you will – the change proved to be a major success for the event and not just with those attending but also with the silent auction and fund raising and of course Ian Paton Delta renown auctioneer!!!

No different from past events, I along with Andrew Maxwell who is a BCIT Student covered the event being able to grab some great interviews starting off with Dale Saip all decked out in his “Cowboy garb.”

The doors opened or rather the saloon doors swung open at six (6) to the waiting “wranglers” who were eager to see the new theme offered up by KidSports Delta which many were impressed with.

One never knows who you’ll run into at any event and this year it was great to see good friend and Retired Canadian Senator Gerry St. Germain as well as Theresa Watts and Evan Dunfee Canada’s Olympic Race Walker.

Not only was it a different theme there were numerous vendors inside the hanger along with food wagons set up outside the front of the hanger which attracted long line-ups due to the smell from across the runway.

The silent auction attracted various items which were on display to the left of the doors when you walked through the Saloon swinging door noting that the best part was to make a bid on-line so there was no money to trade hands.

The hanger was used probably about two-thirds with the remainder being filled with planes where the stage was in front of them where Delta Auctioneer Ian Paton did his best of Leroy Van Dyke Auctioneer song released in 1962.

Overall the event was again a huge success and it’s my wish that they do it all again next April at the same location and considering I was given a rough time by Dale – I’ll wear my Stetson!!!

Congratulations to KidSports Delta on a huge successful event helping the young athletes in Delta.