Annette Star (left) and her good friend Karen Hardy will be volunteering their time over the next several weeks to visit local businesses and seek out donations to raise money for the Canada Day fireworks display in Osoyoos. The fireworks in Osoyoos remain one of the biggest and most spectacular in all of Canada as we celebrate our nation’s birthday on July 1. (Keith Lacey photo)

Annette Star (left) and her good friend Karen Hardy will be volunteering their time over the next several weeks to visit local businesses and seek out donations to raise money for the Canada Day fireworks display in Osoyoos. The fireworks in Osoyoos remain one of the biggest and most spectacular in all of Canada as we celebrate our nation’s birthday on July 1. (Keith Lacey photo)

Annette Star and her good friend Karen Hardy have taken their most comfortable pair of shoes out of the closet as they prepare to visit hundreds of local businesses over the next several weeks to try and raise money once again for the Osoyoos Canada Day fireworks over Osoyoos Lake.

This is the fourth year Star has been in charge of the fundraising committee that raises tens of thousands of dollars for what has become a tradition in Osoyoos for more than 20 years – the Canada Day fireworks.

Hardy replaced Etta-Mae Pratt, Star’s sister-in-law, who had to step down due to health reasons.

Star and Hardy have already began visiting local businesses asking them to contribute what they can towards the Osoyoos fireworks display on Canada Day.

“We’ve got our lists and we’re ready to go,” said Star. “Karen will be hitting a lot of the downtown businesses and I will be trying to get everyone else from outside the downtown.”

According to Star, the Canada Day fireworks in Osoyoos were the most expensive in all of Canada last year.

“I was told that we finally beat Ottawa last year for the first time in many years,” she said.

The fact a town this size has one of the largest Canada Day fireworks displays in the entire country is a great source of pride for Star and Hardy and many local residents.

“It’s pretty incredible that a town our size can host an event that brings in tens of thousands of people into our little town,” said Star. “Last year’s crowd was estimated at between 30,000 and 35,000 people, which is pretty fantastic.”

Not all local businesses make financial contributions to the fireworks display, but most chip in what they can, said Star.

“We have some businesses that give us only $10 bucks and we have others that donate up to $1,000,” she said. “It all adds up and we thank every single business owner who helps us out.”

Anyone making a donation can ask for a tax receipt from the Town of Osoyoos, said Star.

Once again, there will be a donation box set up at the front office at town hall and many local residents continue to support the fireworks committee by making generous donations, she said.

The Canada Day fireworks display in Osoyoos not only attracts local residents, but people from across the entire Okanagan Valley and beyond, said Star.

Once again, Frank Zandvliet, a longtime Town of Osoyoos public works employee, will generously donate his time and skill to purchasing and setting up the fireworks display, said Star.

“We would have to pay big bucks to bring in someone else, but Frank generously donates his time every single year and we really appreciate it,” she said. “We wouldn’t be able to reach our fundraising goals if it wasn’t for Frank and his crew helping us out.”

Hardy said she’s looking forward to meeting local business owners and ensuring the 2016 Canada Day fireworks display in Osoyoos will be successful.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times