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Bashaw stages benefit for High River resident

Bashaw-area MLA Doug Griffiths is slated to be a guest as Bashaw co-hosts a family benefit Aug. 24 to support flood victims

Bashaw-area MLA Doug Griffiths is slated to be a guest as Bashaw co-hosts a family benefit Aug. 24 to support flood victims in High River.

Children’s and family activities at the Bashaw Agricultural Grounds begin at 2:30 p.m., followed by a barbecue at 5 p.m. Entertainment is set to kick off at 3 p.m., with Bashaw musician Ty Christian Wilson, Bashaw Community Theatre and a variety of other community performers.

“People in the community have helped to create this event,” said Bashaw organizer Jackie Northey.

The Battle River-Wainwright Progressive Conservative Constituency Association planned the event as a Bashaw picnic, and later decided to expand it into a flood-relief fundraiser.

Battle River MLA and Municipal Affairs Minister Griffiths has been at the forefront of flood-recovery efforts, and former Stettler resident Emile Blokland is High River’s mayor.

Griffiths plans to attend the Bashaw event with his wife, Sue, and sons Austin, 7, and Brady, 4.

“We want to help out High River and flood victims,” said volunteer Tasha Blanchard. “Our community is close-knit and always willing to work together and help and support people, and other communities. If any disaster struck Bashaw, we would expect other communities to support us.”

During the flood recovery, about 37 seniors from Calgary are being housed in the former Bashaw Valley Lodge and the new Bashaw Meadows.

— Froese