Entertainment

This weekend, Vernon’s Funtastic event celebrates a milestone. Canada’s largest slo-pitch tournament has been going for 25 years and its organizers are proud of the Funtastic Sports Society’s contributions to community life in the North Okanagan.

Successful organizations are imbued with a clear purpose and direction, which is certainly characteristic of the people who contribute their time and energy to the four-day event.

On Thursday, Funtastic’s opening day, several volunteers were asked to comment on Funtastic’s role in its community. Without exception, each person spoke about the Society’s core values and its gifts to Greater Vernon. Clearly, these hard-working people want the overall community to know that the Funtastic event means more than a fun-filled ball tournament.

Society President Wilf Mulder was on his way to participate in a Celebrity softball game, but he stopped to reel off some of Funtastic’s contributions.

He spoke about the defibrillators in the three local arenas he listed ball diamonds and playgrounds he talked about scholarships for Lumby and Vernon students and he described the Funtastic Society’s latest initiative, a $25,000 annual grant program whose recipients are selected by an independent panel. He emphasized that “everything we do during the year is based on these four days. That’s where the money comes from.”

Mulder also mentioned a $500,000 reserve fund that the Society has amassed “because we’re looking at building a permanent outdoor sports facility. The local governments will choose a location, and we’ll help fund it.” His comments were echoed by Vice-President Cindy Masters who believes that “Vernon needs more sports facilities to help youth, seniors, and all residents stay healthy by engaging in outdoor activities.”

These points reflect a serious intent, but Wilf Mulder also is quite aware that Funtastic has been going for 25 years because people have a good time: “from day 1, Funtastic’s goal has always been to have fun. That’s one of the reasons we don’t award cash prizes, just merchandise and other non-monetary prizes. And the music also brings people out the music and the local facilities help our visitors remember their visit as really memorable.”

Jim McEwan, the Society’s recently hired Executive Director, talked about the “teams that come back year after year. They like to stay ay the same campgrounds or hotels, close to friends they’ve made in previous years. It’s like old-home week! Most of the teams are here for the social aspect. We have about a dozen serious ball teams, but the overwhelming majority of the 4500+ players come for fun and friendship.”

The party atmosphere really kicks into high gear during the evening concerts. This year’s headliners include country music star, Aaron Pritchett, and Canadian rockers, 54-40. March Hare, a fan favourite at the Merritt Mountain Music festival, returns for a third year.

Another 10 or so groups, whom McEwan describes as “outstanding opening acts,” round out the entertainment. An event pass for the three nights costs only $30.00, so it’s no wonder that thousands of people crowd into the open air concert area.

Funtastic generates some astounding numbers. Vernon’s 21 ball diamonds host 216 teams and another 84 teams compete in Armstrong and Enderby. More than 4,500 ball players, plus their families and friends descend on the North Okanagan.

About 30 percent of the players are based in the Okanagan Valley, while the majority come from the Lower Mainland. Calgary and Edmonton also send their share of teams. Only one U.S. team will participate this year that team will come all the way from New Mexico.

This influx of sports enthusiasts knows how to spend! The Vernon Chamber of Commerce estimates an economic benefit of about $4.5 million.

They also drink a lot of beer. Rod Gorsline, whose Lion’s Club contracts to serve customers in the beer garden, says that a full 45-foot semi-trailer of canned beer gets sold in three days.

His team of 65 volunteers works frantic shifts in which “six people are constantly cracking open cans. As fast as we open the cans, the beer gets sold. It gets wild in there sometimes.”

Thousands of people quaffing beer can cause crowd control problems, and there have been some problems in the past. However, Jim McEwan says that the issue has been settled: “it was addressed a few years ago. We work closely with the RCMP, the DND military police, and a Kelowna-based security firm that also provides guest services. We make sure that everybody is on the same page. We even have security cameras to help ensure safety and security.”

To emphasize its family-friendly approach, Funtastic kicked off its 2009 event with a “Kids Day” on Thursday. The staples of such an event, face painting, free hot dogs, balloons, and inflatable castles, brought a sizeable crowd to watch a celebrity softball game. Local politicians were joined by radio personalities and professional athletes such as Mark Ferner, Jason Williamson, Lawrie Skolrood, Chuck Kobasew, Sandy Moger, Eric Godard, Kevin Reimer, and Jerrod Smithson.

Meanwhile, many of Funtastic’s 425 volunteers were getting ready for Friday’s onslaught the entertainment stage neared completion food vendors were setting up fencing details and movement corridors were being established.

One of those volunteers was Sandra Simao, now in her 13th year of involvement. Her main job is the Stage Manager for the musical entertainment, but on Thursday she was moonlighting as a Kids Day organizer. She works year round to prepare for this weekend: “I’m like a lot of people Funtastic is my baby. I just love it, and I’m proud that this Society puts so much back into the community. I like the fact that we support the new wing of the Jubilee Hospital and that we help KidSport achieve its goals.”

On the sideline, KidSport organizers Shayne Wright and Ann Holmes had a tent where they told ball fans about their program that helps kids play sports that they otherwise can not afford. KidSport’s Vernon chapter annually raises between $15,000 and $18,000 to pay participation fees and, together with Canadian Tire’s JumpStart program, to buy sports equipment for needy children and youth.