Sixteen people have died following a collision between a minibus and a tractor-trailer on the Trans-Canada Highway. The 25 passengers were mostly seniors from the Dauphin area. They were heading to the Sand Hills Casino, a few minutes from the crash site.
Organizers debated whether to hold the event as the community mourns, says Countryfest Chairman Duane McMaster.
Countryfest President Duane McMaster (right) asked the crowd to hold a moment of silence in memory of the 16 people from the Dauphin area who died in a June 15 bus crash near Carberry .
Photo : Radio-Canada / Chelsea Kemp
They determined, however, that they had to hold the festival, because of its economic importance and also for the emotional support it would provide for the community of around 8,000 souls, McMaster said. He said the annual festival welcomes nearly 14,000 visitors over the four days of the event.
It’s a chance to be together. The people who died in the crash are from around Dauphin and they knew Countryfest is an important event for the community, he said.
A moment of silence was held at the opening of the festival on Thursday and Friday evening to pay tribute to the victims.
Countryfest is also offering #DauphinStrong stickers on the site in exchange for donations, which will go to the Dauphin Seniors Center as well as a fund to help survivors of the collision and the families of the victims.
Enjoy this moment
According to Duane McMaster, the organizers showed respect in their preparations by providing an opportunity for people to meet and make memories.
When someone leaves this world, all we have are memories, he expresses. The festival is an opportunity to create memories with your friends, because we never know how many more opportunities we will have to be with them.
Dauphin resident Bob Austin hasn’t missed a Countryfest since 1990. He says it’s a great event with great music.
I love my beer, my music and the people I hang out with, says Austin. Everyone is there to have fun.
Two festival-goers at Dauphin’s Countryfest dance to music by Tom Hicks on Friday night.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Chelsea Kemp
During the festival, he camps with his friends. He says that for him the event is like an annual meeting with familiar faces where he has the chance to see the youngest members of the community grow and evolve.
Duane McMaster hopes people had a good time over the weekend.
I hope in 15 or 20 years people will remember that weekend and say, ‘Do you remember? It was so much fun,” he concludes.
With information from Chelsea Kemp
2023-07-02 23:19:43
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