A former Kimberley festival is still doing its part to help its community.
The defunct Kimberley International Old Time Accordion Championships is donating $30,000 to the Kimberley Gymnastics Club to help with construction costs after the building was destroyed by a fire in December.
Former KIOTAC chairman Jeany Irvin says they wanted to put to use some of the funds the festival had left over after closing almost 10 years ago.
“We had probably 200 volunteers every year that helped us put on the event,” Irvin says. “I’m sure a lot of them have grand kids or kids that belong to the gymnastics club and are now out of a home. We thought this was a good place to help the community a bit.”
Irvin says even though the festival is no longer a community fixture, members are still eager to help out where needed.
“We’re presenting it on Saturday at 11:00 am at the old gym site,” She says. “Anybody who wants to come down, we’ll be taking pictures and stuff. Any of our old volunteers that have helped us over the years? This is for you. Hopefully you’ll show up and get in the picture.”
The annual festival ceased to be due to rising costs and diminishing revenue in 2013.
Kimberley RCMP say a 26-year-old man has been charged with Arson in relation to December’s fire.
– Jeany Irvin, former chairmen for Kimberley International Old Time Accordion Championships
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