Sunshine and Shows Highlight Townshippers’ Festival 2019

Sunshine and Shows Highlight Townshippers’ Festival 2019

COWANSVILLE, September 22, 2019 – The weather cooperated for the more than 2000 visitors who came out to celebrate the Eastern Townships English-speaking community at the 39^th edition of Townshippers’ Festival on Saturday, September 21, in Cowansville.

Organizers, entertainers, exhibitors, and volunteers welcomed more than 2000 visitors to Massey-Vanier High School for Townshippers’ Festival 2019.
Credit: Linda Hoy

This year's festival offered something for everyone. Visitors discovered more than 40 artisans and exhibitors, enjoyed delicious fare from 5 local vendors, learned more about how to cultivate healthier lifestyles thanks to organizing partner CIUSSS de l'Estrie – CHUS, and received information about organizing partner the Eastern Townships School Board’s various initiatives in addition to getting the chance to explore Massey-Vanier’s fantastic facilities. Townships Expressions was also onsite offering an array of books, music, and art by Townships artists, and authors Deborah Henderson, Ross Murray, and Chris Durrant made appearances to meet visitors and discuss their most recent books. Visitors also had the chance to meet provincial and federal representatives, as well as other special guests.

The festival program was packed with fun activities and entertainment; from arts and crafts, face painting, and hair wrapping for kids, to live music, dancing, and other performances that contributed to the fun, festive atmosphere. The silent auction was once again a popular draw featuring a myriad of generously donated local items and services. Winning bidders who did not pick up their item at the end of the festival will be contacted in the coming days to make arrangements.

The Rainbow Country Cloggers regaled the crowd, performing three times on the outdoor stage.
Credit: Linda Hoy

Thanks to the hard work of the Green Team and supported by visitors and vendors, Townshippers’ Festival kept its commitment to leaving a minimal footprint on the environment. Refuse was streamed into composting, recycling and waste, with only 1 bag of garbage produced by participants and visitors.

Townshippers' Festival’s 2019 organizing partners would like to send out a BIG thank you to all those who helped bring this year’s festival to life and to all our visitors for sharing this wonderful event with us.

Special thanks goes out to the 2019 partners who made the festival possible, including the CIUSSS de l'Estrie – CHUS, the Eastern Townships School Board, the Secrétariat aux relations avec les Québécois d’expression anglaise, Cass Funeral Homes, Global Excel Management, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, Deputy for Brome-Missisquoi Isabelle Charest, The Sherbrooke Record, Deputy for Granby François Bonnardel, CEDEC, Windmill Plastics Ltd., Spa Bolton, Deputy for Saint-François Geneviève Hébert, Deputy for Richmond André Bachand, Deputy for Mégantic François Jacques, the Ville de Cowansville, and Estampe Illumina Inc.

Check back with us at Townshippers.org/tfest to see what is in store for next year’s event at Alexander Galt Regional High School in Sherbrooke in September 2020!

About Townshippers’ Festival

Townshippers’ Festival is a community celebration that welcomes people of all linguistic identities and provides an opportunity to explore the roots of the region’s English-speaking community, discover the ways in which they are contributing to the region today and amplify the message that English-speakers are an integral part of the community and depend on its support.

It is made possible through a partnership between Townshippers’ Association, the Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB), and the CIUSSS de l'Estrie – CHUS. Townshippers’ manages entertainment, artisans, community groups, food concessions, and logistics; the ETSB provides the event location; and the CIUSSS de l'Estrie – CHUS organizes activities that cultivate a healthier community.

About Townshippers’ Association
Townshippers’ Association is a non-profit, non-partisan community organization working on behalf of the Eastern Township’s English-speaking community, since 1979. Connect online at Townshippers.org or contact Townshippers’ in Sherbrooke at 100 – 257 Queen St. 819-566-5717, toll free: 1-866-566-5717 or in Lac-Brome at 3-584 Knowlton Rd. 450-242-4421, toll free: 1-877-242-4421.

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Source:
Holly McMillan

Administrative Officer, Communications & Grants, Townshippers’ Association

ta@townshippers.org | 819-566-5717 (toll-free 1-866-566-5717)