It Starts With a Pumpkin...

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Great Burke Mountain Pumpkin Giveaway. How time flies! 

What started as a simple idea to give a few pumpkins away to the kids in the neighbourhood, has ended up being an annual event that everyone looks forward to, and has become a unique staple of our business. There's no secret that community involvement as a company is a great way to grow your business, but the pumpkin giveaway has become much more than that to us. 

After 10 years, kids who are now way too cool to dress up for Halloween still saunter over the grass at Galloway Park to pick out their pumpkin and laugh at the costume contest photo booth. Perhaps they still remember a time where their chubby toddler body in a pumpkin suit was once plopped down by two eager parents, new to the neighbourhood. Familiar faces, clients, family and friends all flock to the park, and it's nice to catch up. Everyone's always in a good mood - there’s just something about a pile of gourds in your community park that seems to bring out the best in people!

The event is simple, truly just...giving away pumpkins. But making those connections and friends over the years has been really special to everyone on our team. I'll give you an example of a little boy named Blaise. Blaise has been coming to our pumpkin giveaway since he had to hold his mom’s hand to stand as a wee little Bavarian man. He has had the best costumes every year (honourable mention to the pilot in the plane, the fireman and Heihei the chicken!). Who can resist a little kid in a chicken costume? His commitment to the craft has definitely helped him win our photo contest several times. Getting to know Blaise and his mom over the years and watch him grow up has been such a delight, and seeing other happy faces with their pumpkins pop up on social media brings us such joy. 

Over the years, Burke Mountain has grown exponentially, and we have welcomed hundreds of new families to the neighbourhood. The Pumpkin Giveaway has continued, with new sets of eager parents with their chubby toddler in a pumpkin suit. Contributing to the fabric of our community is so important; whether it's the Great Burke Mountain Pumpkin Giveaway, Dog Days, or The Fremont 5km. We take pride in where we live and love being a part of it all. Celebrating 10 years this year is pretty neat, and we're very much looking forward to 10 more.