For Sandy Germain, chair of the Oak Bay Tea Party Society, the highlight of the 55th event came down to “the crowds and the fireworks.”
“The fireworks were great. The beach was packed. There were people everywhere,” Germain said.
She even had a social media comment from a hotel in Port Angeles.
Pretty good show tonight at the oak bay tea party fireworks! @OakBayNews @timescolonist @cfax1070 @victoriabuzzes @OakBayFireDept pic.twitter.com/5qUHli7kZ8
— Charitable (@oakbayfire) June 4, 2017
“They posted they hadn’t heard of the Tea Party but thanks for the fireworks. So they saw them so that was good.”
The lit portion of the weekend, a special event to mark the 55th as well as Canada 150, was sponsored by Abstract Development, Oak Bay Tourism and Oak Bay Marine Group.
“When we’re looking to do something large like that we have to look outside for sponsors,” she said. The latter two sponsors meant a couple more minutes of the show.
The Castle Building Centre was new this year. In the Castle kids corral, youth built bird and fairy houses to take home.
“There were hundreds of kids that went through this, it was amazing,” Germaine said. “That was probably one of the best additions, something new and it was so popular. The kids had so much fun.”
Germain was also happy not to go for a swim herself, but was rescued by the RCMP boat during the Oak Bay Tea Cup Challenge.
“My goal was to not sink my tea cup and I succeeded in that. I did not succeed in rowing too far because I couldn’t row to save my soul. It was a current that was taking me away. But Hazel (Braithwaite) and I were stunning in our sequined gowns and fascinators.”
She also had some questions about the other team, former Tea Party chair Bill Murphy-Dyson, first to ring the bell despite it being his first time in a tea cup.
“I think he must have been taking lessons … He had form, in his tuxedo and shorts and water shoes.”
Murphy-Dyson and teammate former mayor Christopher Causton won the challenge.
Germain also credits success with the addition of Oak Bay High students to her roster of volunteers that already included those from Oak Bay Sea Rescue Society, Carlton House and plethora of residents.
“It’s all of these people that make this work,” she said. “The Oak Bay Tea Party is put on entirely by volunteer hours. It’s amazing because it’s a large event. Without the volunteers it just wouldn’t happen.”
