2012 Westfest Launch: Highlights & Reasons why I Volunteer

April 15, 2012

Reason #1: Elaina Martin's apparently boundless energy & vision.  I sit at the back of the room for the big Westfest media events, such as this past Friday's Westfest Media Launch at Clocktower Brewpub in Westboro Village.  And watch in awe as Elaina works the room and gets the media & the sponsors excited for another awesome line-up and another festival year.  With cameras rolling and flashing, the excitement is palpable and Elaina again does not disappoint.


The official Westfest Launch announcements & line-ups are all over the web: Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa Sun, and Xtra.  For me personally, the highlights include:

• Westfest, 10 years in the making article, by Rosalyn Stevens.  This year is Westfest's 9th anniversary, which means that Westfest has been in the making for an amazing 10 years.  Westfest's history in a nutshell is available in this article, and for myself, I am amazed at how far we've all come.
• Yasir Naqvi, MPP for Ottawa Centre reminded me of Reasons #2, 3 & 4: because we are (#2) free, (#3) family-friendly, and especially for our (#4) All-Ottawa programming  all-day Sunday. We have amazing bands in Ottawa, and I'm thrilled that Elaina continues to dedicate an entire day to our deserving local bands
• Jim Watson, our Ottawa mayor, is a huge Westfest supporter.  But even he acknowledges that city and government funding is marginal compared to business funding that Westfest pulls in.  Reason #5: Westfest is funded primarily by the Westboro neighbourhood, who also reaps the rewards of the festival.  As an economist by training, I love Westfest's business & funding model. 
• Food news: Elaina has signed up Stone Soup Foodworks to be at the main stage this year.  So we the volunteers, and our audience, can enjoy Slow Food. Fast.  

And Reason #6 is of course, the volunteers themselves.  At this year's Launch, I was reminded of all the wonderful volunteers that I continue to work with, and the volunteer alumni who have moved on to other things:

• Gail, who volunteered as Volunteer Management in 2008 & 2009, and along with Suzanne & Leslie provided energy & excitement to the volunteer tent.  I am thrilled that she is now the Volunteer Coordinator for Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour, although Gail plans to come back to Westfest for our 10th year anniversary.
• Don & Jen - Don first volunteered in 2009, brought Jen into our fold the following year.  No matter what position I asked them to do, they did it with a smile.  Also, did you know they are the team behind foodiePrints, a local food & restaurant blog with over 5000 followers?  Don & Jen are getting married this summer, so are not available to volunteer this year.
• F.C. Estrella, whom I knew as Faye Estrella, and as a 2006 Floater who was also highly reliable at filling in at our Artist Gate.  In 2007 Festrell performed as a Westfest Spoken Word performer, and this year ze is the curator for Westfest Spoken Word!  From backstage to stage to stage curator - I love it!

I am looking forward to meeting more wonderful people this year.  And, a post of current Senior Volunteers to come soon!