Parksville city council approved a daytime road closure along Highway 19A between Craig Street and Corfield Street during this year's Canada Day celebration after a request from Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Kim Burden.
Staff suggested going beyond the street closure and recommended Chamber consider setting up a street market during the road closure "instead of just having an empty highway."
Burden said he thought that was a "great idea, I like it a lot... I'll see what I can organize in a month."
Meanwhile, council approved a budgeted expenditure of $2,500, which Burden said will go to "hire professional traffic control" during the event.
"Canada Day will look and feel much the same as the last few years with a parade, Shriners pancake breakfast and opening ceremonies," he said. "It will be a strongly family-focused day and we're looking at ways to make sure families are entertained without having to dig into their jeans every five minutes."
Burden said organizers are looking at ways to "defray the costs" of the event for residents.
He also noted they've secured The Odds to headline the event and it will cap off with Thrifty Foods' firework show.
In other news from city council's meeting Wednesday"
• Parksville Community and Conference Centre executive director Margaret Spruit sought out dunk-tank candidates from Parksville city council for the upcoming Community Carnival Day event slated for June 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Spruit said the event will celebrate the PCCC’s 15th anniversary in the community and is meant to thank Parksville residents for their ongoing support of the centre.
She said it will be a free event with different activities, including a dunk tank, which she asked council members to consider taking part in.
• Christopher Stephens updated council on the value, potential and management considerations regarding the Parksville wetlands, which was a follow up to a report he made in 2012.
• Parksville Volunteer Fire Department fire chief Doug Banks presents deputy chief Marc Norris with a 25 year service award at Wednesday night’s Parksville city council meeting.
Mayor Marc Lefebvre thanked Norris for a quarter century of dedication to the local fire hall.
Banks said the award recognized a “significant milestone” in Norris’ firefighting career which started in 1990 when he first joined the department as a junior member.