Bluegrass and Gospel Music Night

Our community came out for a night of Bluegrass and Gospel music Sunday, July 12th. The evening started out with a video of a playground build and a quick speech by Crystal Harris about the project. Phil Harris was the M/C for the evening intoducing musicians and singers. The audience was tapping toes and clapping hands through out the performance of uplifting music. After the show many people said what a great night it was and some even signed up to help build the new playground. There was 160 people in attendance and $750 was raised by their generosity. The performers were ... ( have to get this info from Cory's dad and he isn't home right now)Supplies for the canteen were provided by Sobeys, Robins Donuts and homemade goodness was provided by Lucy Harris, Crystal Harris and Elizabeth Conrad. Thank You to all who supported the evening.

Canada Day-Dotmocracy

On Canada Day, July 1st , volunteers attended 4 different celebrations in hopes of obtaining kids desires for the new playground and bringing attention to the project. In Weymouth we had a float of a playground, which was built by D.A.L.A construction students, with supplies donated by Home Hardware. The shiny new truck used to pull the float along was donated by Digby Belliveau Motors. Volunteers and their children were riding the float tossing out Kool-Aid singles to those watching the parade. The kids were excited to see that a new playground was going to be built in Digby and to get some Kool Aid drink mix for their water bottles.


In Digby, volunteers attended the Town Councilors BBQ at the Fisherman Memorial Park with hopes of getting the kids to help design the playground by holding a dotmocracy during the BBQ. Children were able to place a dot on the equipment they liked the most and in return received a Canada Day sticker and balloon animal/hat. We were greatly pleased that a young person who was attending the BBQ, offered to make a variety of balloon animals and hats for the younger children. Volunteers also attended Digby Pines Resort festivities with the dotmocracy to gain input from those who attended there as well.


In Bear River celebrations were in full swing when we asked to set up a table for the dotmocracy. Kids of all ages were excited to be asked for their help in picking out the equipment for the new playground and even more excited to be getting a balloon hat and sticker. Many parents were happy to hear of a new playground project and even asked how they could help.


Our dotmocracy was a big success during all the celebrations of Canada Day but we felt that many of the kids who helped pick equipment for the playground were of school age. So we contacted the local preschool and set up a meeting time with their students to ask them what they wanted in the playground. The younger kids were happy to offer many opinions and a few were just happy to get some stickers.

Raffle Winners

The weeks leading up to Canada Day, M.O.P.S. had a raffle. Three prizes were available to purchase tickets on.

* Golf for 2 at The Pines.
* Handmade Quilt
* Primitive Shelf

M.O.P.S. raised $786 for the Park and three very happy people took home their prizes.

Liette from Saullnierville won the Golf for 2 at The Pines package.

Carol Harding from Digby won the Handmade Quilt.



Dawn Spinney from Digby won the Primitive Shelf.

Promotional Video

Vaughn Vantassell Memorial Park

Digby Fire Chief Vaughn Vantassell 2000.
Dedication to our community is why we choose Vaughn to be memorialized at the new community playground/park. He was dedicated to improving our town and helping keep people physically active. The new park will achieve both of these goals and naming it after Vaughn was only natural.

Vaughn and his dog 2004.
Vaughn had a long history with the Fire Department and served with the Digby Fire Dept for 40 years, was Fire Chief for 25 years and also a firefighter with the CFB at Cornwallis Base for 35 years. He was involved in various parts of the community and always had a vision and dream of what Digby could become. “He did it all.” Says his wife, Bonnie Vantassell.

Vaughn, Andrew and Kenny at ATV-RCMP game in Digby.
Vaughn loved being active and was still playing hockey at age 62. His wife said with a smile that he enjoyed all sports and even tried wind surfing in the Annapolis Basin. He was involved in the Recreation Commission for 15 years and helped provide programs like CanSkate for children because he believed that every child should have the chance to learn how to skate.

Vaughn on his scooter, June 2005.
A happy memory many people have of Vaughn was seeing him go through downtown with the big fire truck NO. 7 to water the flowers. Then seeing him zip around town on his little blue scooter, in the last years. Vaughn was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1999 and lost his battle in November 2005. He was 69 when he died but many feel he died too young. The No. 7 truck was designed by Vaughn and he drove it to Digby from Quebec when it was built.

Vaughn watering the flowers downtown with the No 7.
(Photo by Richard Winchester)
Vaughn with the No 7.