Early on Sunday, March 2, snow fell and dampened the hopes of the Abbotsford Grand Squares square dance club for the success of their second annual Zajac Ranch benefit dance.
Club president David McVige and the dancers were the happiest little square dance club in the region when the weather warmed up and turned to rain just in time and brought 50 happy dancers from around the region to the Abbotsford Social Activity Association hall that afternoon.
The afternoon of fun resulted in just over $1,800 being raised for Zajac Ranch.
“We were thrilled with the turnout of 50 dancers this year,” McVige said. “They came to have fun square dancing, but they really came to give.”
The dance featured caller Heather Wallace of New Westminster in the anchor position of MC, and callers Lyle O’Hara from Surrey, Bill Docherty from Burnaby, and Wendy Krueger from Abbotsford.
The local square dance club was a longtime supporter of the Salvation Army and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. A few years ago, under the leadership of then-president Helen LeFleur, the dancers’ charitable efforts expanded with a one-time benefit dance for Zajac Ranch.
Early in 2013, the club members decided to begin supporting the Zajac Ranch as an annual event.
The family of Mel and Wendy Zajac provide camping experiences every summer on the shores of Stave Lake in Mission for more than 500 children aged seven to 17 who have chronic, debilitating and life-threatening conditions.