Parksville Beach Festival Society Donates Record-Breaking $88,201 to Volunteer Organizations

Parksville, BC – October 7, 2025 – While the Parksville Beach Festival Society works year-round to deliver vibrant summer events along Parksville’s beautiful waterfront, one of their most rewarding moments comes in the fall — when they give back to the community.

At City Hall, the Society’s board of directors proudly presented donation cheques totaling a record-breaking $88,201 to 24 local philanthropic organizations. These groups served as Volunteer Gate Ambassadors during the 2025 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition, one of Vancouver Island’s signature summer events.

“This is the highest amount we’ve ever distributed to our volunteer groups,” said Cheryl Dill, President of the Parksville Beach Festival Society. “These not-for-profit organizations contribute immensely to the success of our festival. Volunteer involvement not only ensures the smooth operation of our events — it strengthens community bonds and helps our region thrive.”

Gate Ambassadors play a vital role in the festival, greeting and counting visitors, offering information, and collecting feedback. In 2025, the event welcomed more than 119,092 visitors who came to admire 23 breathtaking sand sculptures created by international and Canadian artists.

The following groups contributed nearly 3,200 volunteer hours to this year’s festival:

1. Bowser Seniors Housing Society
2. CatSpan
3. Deep Bay Fire/Rescue Society
4. Flowerstone Health Society
5. Forward House Community Society
6. Fraternal Order of Eagles
7. Knights of Columbus
8. Knox United Church
9. Lions Club of Parksville
10. Mid Van Isle Habitat Enhancement Society
11. Oceanside Community Arts Council
12. Oceanside Community Safety Volunteers
13. Oceanside Hospice Society
14. Oceanside Stroke Recovery Society
15. Parksville & District Historical Society
16. Parksville Curling Club
17. Parksville Men’s Shed
18. Parksville Qualicum Adult Literacy Society
19. Parksville Quilt House Quilters’ Guild
20. Parksville Seniors’ Centre
21. Parksville Victoria’s Quilts
22. Qualicum & District Curling Club
23. Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach
24. Sources Community Resources Society

The Parksville Beach Festival Society’s mandate is to create fun, family-friendly events that enhance the local beach experience and contribute to community development. As part of its commitment, the Society allocates 25% of gate donations to local non-profits and community projects. It also supports improvements to Parksville’s Community Park, having contributed to projects such as the Parksville Outdoor Theatre, community signage, and a park gazebo.

Since 1999, the Society has donated nearly $1.2 million to non-profit groups and community initiatives. It also sets aside funds annually to help sustain future events.

For more information, please email [email protected].