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In early summer of 1986, a Village merchant, Terry Woods, suggested
that a Festival should be held in Highland Creek similar to those
held in other rural communities. He sought and gained the support of
other merchants and the Highland Creek Village Business Association
which had been formed a year earlier joined in organizing the event
scheduled for September 20, 1986.
Terry Woods volunteered to chair and lead the project. He was joined
by Tom Kreimes and Clancy Delbarre as the lead hands in the
organization. Assistance was sought from Alderman John Mackie and
Controller Ken Morrish who helped pave the way for obtaining permits
from Police, Fire, Liquor Board, City, street closures, etc.
The festival included a parade starting at Highland Creek Public
School, a beer garden, and a street dance later that night in the
Village. The total revenue of the event was $6,487 and produced a
surplus of $1,158 despite a loss of $1,400 on a T-Shirt promotion
mostly offset by the beer garden net profit of $1,089. $158 were donated
to the Red Cross and $1,000 retained as a reserve for the following
year’s festival.
Overall the event, day and evening, was enjoyed by the participants
although the weather turned out quite chilly and It was decided that
it should be repeated in 1987 but earlier in June instead of the Fall.
Old English style lettering was adopted as the logo type face for the
name of the Festival. Costs for that year were $4,737 and the excess
revenue of $167 was donated to Centenary Hospital. Held again in June
1988 with 4 Parade bands participating:- the Legion, Salvation Army,
Lady Godiva (UofT) and Royal Air Cadets #611. The Highland Creek
Community Association joined in organizing the event and members of
that group have been involved ever since as has the Royal Canadian
Legion Br. 258.
In 1989 the event was again switched to September 23rd. and the parade
route was altered to start at the Legion lot. Starting in 1990 the
event was scheduled for June and has remained in June (the third
Saturday) of each year. In 1991, the Villager , the Highland Creek
Community newspaper, became the major fundraising vehicle through an
advertising sales program which continues to this date. The 1991 event
was led by the Lions Club and the final surplus generated at that
year end was $1,065.
In 1996 a major program was undertaken to include a high profile band
but rained out and the Lions Club who had sponsored the event
suffered a significant financial loss. Georgie Murphy, owner of
Albion Book, who had put in seed money was eventually partly repaid by
proceeds of a garage sale of items donated from residents and Village
businesses.
The following years “97. ‘98 and ‘99 were modest successes with the
Centennial Community and Recreation Association joining in as one of
the lead hosts along with the Highland Creek Community Association, the
Highland Creek Village Business Association, and other community
service clubs who provided financial and/or personnel assistance.
In
1997 the parade started from Centennial Public School then switched to
Oliver Mowat for the next two years. It was decided to undertake a
major celebration for 2000 ( Scarborough East 2000 Festival) taking in
all of Southeast Scarborough to be held in Adams Park with
entertainment, beer garden, fireworks, carnival rides, etc. etc.
Professional fundraisers were engaged but proved unsuccessful and a
preceding heavy rain left the site as a mud bowl. Over the years
various supplementary events were undertaken; street dance, Sunday
pancake breakfast, dinner dance, etc. but public participation was less
than hoped for and most committee members who had worked long and hard
on the main event were too exhausted to remain enthused.
In 2001 and to date, the Festival has returned to its more modest
roots with one day’s activities in the Village featuring four popular
attractions; a crafters market, children's entertainment area, beer garden and parade.
In 2002, the parade route started at Centennial School (Lawson Rd and
Centennial Rd.) and has been repeated every year since then. The Royal
Canadian Legion Br. 258 on Lawson Road has over the years been of great
assistance in carrying out the Festival in addition to participating in
the parade.
In 2002 the Highland Creek Heritage Festival was
incorporated by Letters Patent issued on February 22, 2002. Costs of
the festival in the past few years has varied from 10 to 15 thousand
dollars.
In 2010 the Festival will be held on Saturday, June 19th, 2010 which will
be its 25th consecutive year of celebration.
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