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West Shore Rotary Lobsterfest raises over $20,000 for memorial playground

Memorial park to honour West Shore RCMP officer killed in the line of duty
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Pucker up Langford Mayor Stew Young kisses the cod, says the oath and gets ‘screeched in’ during the Rotary Club of West Shore’s 2019 Lobsterfest. See the full story on page 3. (Michelle Cabana/News Staff)

A generous, sellout crowd made the annual Westshore Lobsterfest a sucess for West Shore Rotary.

About 250 people helped raise more than $20,000 that will go toward buying playground equipment for a planned memorial park, said Jim Tenhove, master of ceremonies and member of the Rotary for 21 years.

Dianna Seaton, board and membership chair at the Rotary, described Saturday’s dinner as a “downhome kitchen party.”

“Lobsterfest is to some people a gourmet lobster dinner. This is not. It’s a kitchen party, where you eat, drink, laugh, sing, dance – whatever.”

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Local dignitaries, including Langford Mayor Stew Young and council attended the dinner. Langford’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch #91 provided space and catered the event.

“It was a great collaboration,” said Tenhove. “Can’t thank the Legion enough for stepping up to the plate.”

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The dinners were $75, but Tenhove accepted bribes from tables asking to be the first served. Local bakeries and grocery stores donated a dozen cakes for auction, Seaton said, adding the Legion contributed a “massive” assorted fruit platter went for $1,000.

“It was beautiful, beautiful, it wasn’t just a fruit platter, it was designed.”

A silent auction portion had over 30 items contributed by area businesses. A $150 Thrifty Foods gift card ended up being sold for $160. A family fire truck ride sold for $150.

Big bids went for a food voucher and one night stay in Bear Mountain and a weekend at the Long Beach Lodge Resort in Tofino.

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The event is a “kick off” to fundraisers that will be announced in the future, Seaton said.

The Rotary club will request grants and donations to help reach the $250,000 goal needed to buy playground equipment for a memorial park to honour local RCMP officer Const. Sarah Beckett who was killed by an impaired driver in 2016.

The park is planned to be in City Centre Park, near Westhills Stadium.

swikar.oli@goldstreamgazette.com


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An artistic rendering of plans for the Sarah Beckett Memorial Playground in Langford. (Courtesy of the City of Langford)