Downtown was filled with children wearing plastic fire hats and carrying balloons and umbrellas on Saturday. It smelled of street food as music wafted through the air.
The annual Street Fair consisted of sidewalk sales, kids activities, live entertainment and food trucks that took up Central Avenue from 15th to River Street.
While several took shelter under tents or in the mall from the rain, most people walked the streets with umbrellas and their hoods up to see what Prince Albert’s largest community event had to offer this year.
‘Give with your heart:’ Duck drop more than just a race
Kinsmen Club President Brad Amy was grateful for the community’s support following their duck race.
Of the 2,000 colourful rubber ducks they dropped into the river from the Diefenbaker Bridge, Amy estimated about 1,000 corresponded with a ticket number.
He said donors might think they’re just buying a duck, but the money goes towards something far more.
“Yeah, it’s a $10 donation, but the reality is—I’ll say it again—when the government stops funding stuff, we come in and we start funding,” he said. “We have to do something to serve our community’s greatest needs.”
The Kinsmen Club introduced their duck race as the finale to the Street Fair last year.
“It’s a pretty easy sell,” said Amy, and the community engagement seemed to fit the bill.
People lined the river to watch the duck drop at 5 p.m. and followed the race all the way to the boat launch.
The main prizes were $2500, $1000 and $500 dollars cash, belonging to ticket numbers 0099, 0172 and 0563.
The next 40 ducks got Selena’s Donair gift cards.
Shedding light on what it takes to be a police dog
Although there weren’t many paws hitting Central Avenue, a couple dogs brought in some attention to Arsenal K9—a business dedicated to training, daycare and grooming.
Owner and trainer Jason Arsenault and his employee Vanessa Durand were doing demonstrations with their dogs.
Arsenault, a former police officer, said they’re currently training Durand’s dog Awol to track down evidence for officers.
“We’re teaching this young guy to track and indicate on articles, so indicate on human scent. If you’re tracking a bad guy for police work and they drop, say, a piece of evidence or something then the dog would indicate on that article so the officer can keep it and use it for evidence,” he explained.
Arsenault has been training dogs in Prince Albert since last May and started his business here in January.
Their grand opening takes place on Saturday, June 22 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 218 South Industrial Dr.
The event has a BBQ, door prizes, prize draws, games and entertainment.
