Donald
Teuma-Castelletti
CALUMET ISLAND
Sept. 23, 2017
Offering inflatable bouncy structures, lots of sugary snacks, face painting and a range of fun for the whole gang, the first Calumet Island Family Day was a huge success for all involved.
“It’s the first time we’re doing this,” said R.A. president Louise Grenier. “It’s a lot of work and we have a lot of activities for youth and adults.”
Doubling as a community fun day and fundraiser, the event was hosted by the R.A. to help offset the costs of purchasing new equipment and providing repairs throughout the year.

The all-day Saturday event was also meant to show parents that their local R.A. is for everyone, not just the children. While kids had the freedom to run around, jump on the bouncy structures and get their faces painted, parents could participate in many of the games organized, from relay races to parachute games.
“We’re trying to have games where parents play with their kids,” said Grenier. “Sometimes, parents don’t have time to play with their kids and this is an opportunity for that.”
One event planned for the afternoon aimed at adults was a special relay race, where two teams of five would drag a stretcher across the yard and then back again. However, the catch was that the team member in the stretcher had to be dressed in a night gown, hoping to provide some hilarity out in the heat.
Unfortunately, the heat of the day got in the way of those shenanigans, and teams opted instead to have a water balloon fight. A bit more refreshing than running around, even scantily clad, for sure.
The inflatable structures were a huge attraction for the younger crowds, with a bouncy barn for the youngest and a bigger firehouse for the older children. Many raced around the firehouse, creating their own obstacle courses as they slid backwards down the climbing area or belly-flopped over walls before popping out to do it all over again.
Grenier was very proud of the work done by the R.A. and all volunteers to make the day a success. She said that over 20 volunteers came out, and that they always have a great response from the community when seeking help.
“The response is always so amazing,” said Grenier. “We always have a lot of people coming to help us.”
Raffles were hosted with prizes provided from their local sponsors, as well as door prizes aimed at both kids and adults.
As well, Grenier said, money raised will help fund new activities for the elderly, as they prepare crochet and knitting groups for the winter.