It took just minutes for 8,000 chocolate eggs to vanish — scooped up by a sea of excited children who fanned out across the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre in a spring tradition nearly 50 years in the making.
The NOTL Kinsmen Club’s annual Easter egg hunt drew hundreds of participants for its free outdoor egg hunt.
Inside, the Niagara Nursery School ran its Bunny Trail fundraiser for a local daycare with 300 children currently on its wait list and needing the community’s support now more than ever.
Ken Slingerland, director of the NOTL Kinsmen Club and a past president, described the egg hunt as the club’s flagship event for the last 49 years. He said attendance surpassed the typical 500-person mark by a wide margin.
Eliza McAllister, a Niagara-on-the-Lake parent who attended this year with her son, five-year-old Liam, noticed the same.
“It feels bigger this year,” she said. “Even with the cold, everyone stayed. I think that says a lot about how important it is to people.”
Inside, the Bunny Trail fundraiser ran from 9 to 11:30 a.m., with admission at $5 per child.
Laura Townsend, president of the nursery school board, oversaw a bake sale organized by parent volunteers, colouring stations hosted by the Fine Estates Team, hot chocolate from the recently opened Foodland, and a touch-a-truck area featuring fire services, Niagara Regional Police, paramedic units, tractors and a Performance Mercedes display. Performances from the NOTL Ukesters and a mahic show rounded out the morning.
The school serves more than 75 families yet has over 300 children on its wait list, a number that points to a childcare gap the fundraiser attepts to close.
“We now have third-generation families, with children and even grandchildren coming through the nursery school,” Townsend said.
The Bunny Trail’s $15,000 goal was to help fund basic necessities for the nursery to continue serving the community for the forseeable future.
“All of the proceeds raised today go towards equipment for our classrooms, technology that teachers need,” said Townsend.
Last year, funds covered new laptops for staff. This year, organizers are working toward a new colour printer and walkie-talkies for classroom communication. Durable outdoor play equipment, built to withstand both winter cold and summer heat, is a longer-term priority.
The Kinsmen direct any donations they collect at the event toward cystic fibrosis research, their national charitable cause. The hunt began in Simcoe Park nearly five decades ago and has been held at the community centre for roughly 15 years.
“It’s just nice to have something that feels like the whole town is here together,” said McAllister.
The Kinsmen Club’s next major event is its annual car show, scheduled for Aug. 9 at the Kinsmen Scout Hall.
