NEW LOCATION

Hill Community Center Board, says he feels good about passing on the torch.

“It’s great to turn it over to a new group of individuals. You know, we did this for 14 years, so there’s possibly a little burnout there, so it’s good to get some fresh people in to keep the event going and get new ideas from them,” said MacNab.

“It’s just great to have some new, generally younger, people taking it over, and they’re full of piss and vinegar so they’ll do a great job with it.”

MacNab, who has been involved in the Summer Bash since it began in 2009, says it has become part of the village’s identity.

“It’s a real Paradise Hill thing now and it’s something that has developed into the character of Paradise Hill, so we definitely built up something really good and there’s still needs in the community,” said MacNab.

“We (the community centre board) took a lot of fundraising dollars out of this town that maybe would have gone to other non-profits, so now they can use the Bash and take the revenue from it to service the needs of all those non-profit organizations in town.”

MacNab says it’s been great to see the progress in the community and to be involved in planning the Summer Bash. He recalls in 2010 when Gord Bamford came to town.

“When he came in 2010 he said he wanted to be the first guy to play in the new facility, and when we opened it in 2016, Gord came and did a show in the fall in the community centre,” said MacNab.

“He was true to his word and we had him back to open the facility, so it was really good.”

When they first got funding to build the community center in 2015, they had projections the funds may take more than 15 years to repay, but they were able to pay off the debt in roughly half that time.

“It’s a good cause ... and I think everybody saw the need was there, so when you have a need and a good project that supports the community, I think that’s the main reason it’s been successful,” said MacNab.

“We’ve got a great community, and it’s not just Paradise Hill, it’s the extended community, neighbouring communities.”