Everyone loves a parade – even pets!
The Ocean Park Community Association invites you and your well-behaved furry or feathered friends to the first annual Ocean Park Pet Parade this Sunday afternoon, April 29.
“Ocean Park and neighbouring areas are filled with people who love their pets, particularly their dogs,” notes Laura Thibeault, a realtor with HomeLife Benchmark Realty and community association board member.
The regular use of area parks, beaches and trails by local residents with their pets is second to none, something organizers aim to celebrate. At the same time, they want to encourage the healthy and happy handling of local pets. “And this is what the community association is all about – community!” Thibeault says.
Fellow HomeLife realtor and co-organizer Deborah Cooper agrees.
“We want to show our friends and residents how welcoming Ocean Park is to all our neighbours – both two and four-legged.”
Raise funds for vital local sanctuary
Beyond raising awareness and community spirit, the Ocean Park Pet Parade will also raise funds for SALI Farm, where animal rescues-turned-therapists help local schoolchildren heal from trauma. The Semiahmoo Animal League Inc.’s unique farm animal sanctuary works with at-risk kids to teach empathy and teamwork by working one-on-one with them and rescued animals.
Parade with your pets
Bring your pets – all well-mannered furry friends are welcome, even stuffies! – and gather at the Ocean Park Hall at 1 p.m. to get ready for a 1:30 p.m. supervised stroll around the village, through Fun Fun Park and back to the hall. Pre-registration is a must.
Festivities continue to 3:30 p.m., including visits with animal mascots, selfie stations and photo ops with SALI Farm’s very own celebrity, Louise the Rooster, in his special wheelchair. Enjoy give-aways, prizes and raffle gift baskets chock-full of goodies from local businesses.
“Our Ocean Park businesses have really stepped up and we have three amazing gift baskets to win, which will be displayed for ticket pre-sales at Ocean Park Village Pub, TD Bank and our HomeLife office at #1, 1920 152 St.,” Thibeault says.
Residents are asked to pre-register their pets – and the first 100 participating registrants will receive a free gift on parade day!