The Ghost Watershed Alliance Society (GWAS) will be hosting their third annual benefit concert and silent auction April 5.
Held at the Beaupre Community Hall, the event promises to keep guests entertained with the music of Cochrane singer-songwriter Kaitee Dal Pra, guitarist Martin Russell and multi-instrumentalist — and Ghost region resident David Lertzman.
“We hope the concert will be a great way to bring the community together, which extends far beyond the boundaries of this watershed,” said Marina Krainer, executive director of the organization.
The music will be accompanied by a silent auction, boasting more than 50 items, such as white-water rafting adventures, horse-drawn sleigh rides at Lake Louise, artwork and a collection of gift cards and memberships to local businesses.
Proceeds from the event will go towards the society’s operations, said Krainer. These include organizing and undertaking projects, running Walks in the Watershed sessions, and working with other groups, stakeholders and governments. This year, Krainer said the group has plans for six educational Walks in the Watershed events, with the first slated for June 1.
“Funds for operational expenses are critical, but hard to come by, for small local watershed stewardship groups,” she added.
Last year, the sold-out event raised $5,000.
The GWAS is a community group aiming to maintain and enhance the ecosystem of the Ghost Watershed, which covers nearly 1,000 kilometres.
“The most important part for us is to raise public awareness around the importance of the Ghost Watershed and the challenges it faces,” she said. “We will care for what we love and the Ghost certainly needs to be cared for as we all depend on water for our life blood.
“We need to make sure, working collaboratively, that human land-uses are sustainable in order to maintain water quality, quantity and distribution of flow throughout the year for generations to come.”
The event will run from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on April 5.
Tickets are $25 and are available at Bentleys Books and Phantoms Music, along with online at ghostwatershed.ca.
