Anyone who has lived in Weyburn for a few years likely has fond memories of the Communithon, whether it was through volunteering, performing, watching their children or grandchildren perform, or even just watching the local talent and epic-level fundraiser from the comfort of their home. Many have seen how some changes to the event have led to lower attendance, and lower numbers.

The recent dissolution of the Weyburn & District United Way governance board may have left some wondering what will come of the organization’s largest annual fundraiser. A volunteer meeting for the 2019 Communithon will be held on January 16th.

This will be the 38th year of the event, and many feel the show must go on, with or without a local United Way board presence.

Tasha Collins, Program Director for longtime member agency Canadian Mental Health Association Weyburn branch, said the member agencies are still committed to the event.

“As we did wrap-up from Communithon this year, I think there were some ideas floating around the table from the member agencies, that we might be able to spruce it up and make it something that everybody wants to go and see again and be a part of, because it has been a big thing in Weyburn for 38 years,” said Collins.

As the community has seen over the past few years, changes to the longstanding event are inevitable. For anyone wishing to have an impact on how new changes could be implemented, the time to act is now.

“We heard from different people, ‘How can I volunteer?’, ‘How can I be a part of this?’, ‘This is such an awesome event’,” she said. “I’m really hoping that the community comes out, and wants to be supportive and that we can continue on with this event. It helps so many people.”

The meeting is for anyone interested in helping make the 38th annual Communithon the event they remember it to be or hope for it to be.

According to former W&DUW board president, Sabrina Kraft, a fairly large core of committed individuals will continue to be involved.

“There are several volunteers and Communithon members that still want to hold that as a main fundraiser for the area,” she said. “At our debriefing meeting for the Communithon committee, there were many volunteer members of the Communithon committee that still want to move forward and that’s why we have scheduled that meeting."

Since January is traditionally when the former United Way board would begin planning for the Communithon, the group will go about the planning again this month, but with hopefully more volunteers and with fresh eyes.

“We’re just looking for new input, new ways of doing it,” added Kraft.

The Communithon Planning Meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on January 16th in the Community Room at the Weyburn Credit Union.

Volunteers can come in all shapes, sizes and even costumes (photo by Jennifer LaCharite).

What was historically a time when there would be a fully-packed house, there were many empty seats for the evening's high-calibre musical performances at the last Communithon (photo by Jennifer LaCharite).