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Calgary Herald

Full steam ahead for Neighbour Day despite rainfall warning

Article content Calgary's annual Neighbour Day is going forward this weekend 'rain or shine,' Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek announced at a press conference Friday morning. Article content 'And it feels a little bit like it's going to be more rain than shine,' she added. Article content Article content The celebration has run yearly since 2014 to commemorate outpourings of community support during the 2013 floods. This year saw the launch of the Neighbour Day micro-grant program, letting Calgarians apply for up to $2,500 to host a celebration. Grants on offer totalled $70,000, and the fund was quickly fully expended across the city. Article content Article content The microgrants helped fund 43 community events, expected to reach more than 20,000 Calgarians. An additional 22 green space events are expected across Calgary, along with 55 block parties. More than 50 fire trucks have been requested to visit events, although working crews may be called away from their planned attendance. Article content Article content While no official Neighbour Day event had been cancelled at the time of the press conference, other events in the city have not been so lucky. Article content A vintage western wear weekend dubbed the Honky Tonk Market was forced to postpone and abbreviate its three-day event. The likelihood of the Tomkins Park market had been in question for days, as organizers, the city, and the 17th Avenue Business Improvement Association worked their way through weather reports, before finally cancelling the event Thursday morning. Article content Article content 'We're all taking this weatherman hat, and putting it on and trying to predict what's going to happen,' said Ashlee Popowich, vendor co-ordinator for the market. Expected rainfall varied between both days and weather apps, but the safety risk of winds tearing down tents was what forced the final call. Article content Popowich says the city has been a great partner through the meteorological chaos, and with that support, they were able to postpone the market to take place on June 27, albeit shortened to a single day. While grateful to reschedule on such a short timeline, she says that the 50 vendors expected for the market are still feeling the loss. Article content 'A lot of small businesses really rely on these kinds of events, especially at a peak point of tourism for our city, to be able to carry their businesses through the rest of the year.' Article content Neighbour Day events able to run despite the forecast are likely to see Gondek herself, who plans to visit every quadrant and at least 17 communities. She'll be leaving behind Mayor Jyoti's Buckets of Fun — small sand pails filled with candy, sidewalk chalk, and 'even a rain poncho, because here in Calgary you need to be prepared for everything,' Gondek said. Article content She says she would be disappointed if events were forced to reschedule but would understand given the conditions.