This year’s Good Sam Samboree a success in Whitecourt

By Laura Bohnert

This year, Whitecourt played host to the Alberta Good Sam Samboree which took place from June 17 to 22 at the Westward Community Centre.

The Good Sam RV Club is an organization for those who are interested in the RV lifestyle and camping together. The organization is composed of 20 active chapters, one of which includes the Whitecourt Wanderers (Whitecourt’s Good Sam chapter).

Each year, Alberta Good Sam hosts three events: the Provincial Spring Meeting which takes place in April; the Provincial Samboree which took place in Whitecourt this June; and the Provincial Fall Meeting and Mini Samboree in September.

The Provincial Samboree is the largest Good Sam event. It is held in various locations across Alberta on the third week of each June and aims to bring chapter members together for camaraderie, games, and activities including golf, crafts, jam sessions, pet parades, banquets, breakfasts, entertainment, and more. Next year’s Samboree will be held in St. Paul.

This year’s event featured 160 units with more than 300 people from as far as BC, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

The Samboree featured banquets, entertainment, and games, describes Darlene Soper, a member of the Whitecourt Wanderers. “There was a colour parade in the hall,” states Soper. “Each Good Sam chapter has a flag and different coloured vests,” Soper explains, so they all participated in a colour parade.

“There were also dignitaries in attendance,” describes Soper, “along with the Cadets, and there was even a bagpiper.”

Relay for Life held a lunch fundraiser during the event, and Outback Rentals and Steve’s Hotshot hosted a free breakfast. Instead of charging for the breakfast, generous food bank and cash donations were accepted. “A half-ton load of food was collected for the food bank,” describes Soper, along with $360 in cash donations.

“There was a lot going on at the event,” states Soper, “and the Town and County totally came through with gifts and support.” There were six door prize gifts donated with values of more than $60.

The event featured tours through the Chamber of Commerce as well as to ANC and the Millar Pulp Mill, “and we were sending people all over town, either to check out our Home Hardware or to try our Mountain Pizza & Steak House. Eagle River Casino even sent out a bus,” describes Soper.

“The Samboree is held once a year in Alberta,” explains Soper. “It is a pretty big event, but it’s also really good for the town. The Samboree brings a ton of new people into Whitecourt so they can explore, shop, and spend money. It really helps to support the town.”

For more information about Good Sam, upcoming Good Sam events, or the next Good Sam Samboree, visit rvalberta.ca.