Community invited to celebrate blessings with belated egg hunt

SWAN VALLEY – "Normally you pick a place, you plan it all out, you get enough people, have enough time to put it all together. We are just going to have a few other things we need to do," said Edward Klassen, organizer of the Condon Community Easter Egg Hunt. "We want to celebrate all the blessings bestowed upon us."

The Klassen family rescheduled the Condon Easter Egg Hunt for this Saturday, May 9 starting at 11 a.m. at the Condon Community Ball Field, off Highway 83 on the north end of the air strip. Klassen said it will happen rain or shine and they will be taking extra precautions to ensure public health and safety.

This year they have nearly 3,000 eggs filled with candy, 40-50 silver tickets prizes and five golden tickets with the chance to win $50. All of the eggs and prizes were assembled in March and have been in storage.

"We are making sure nobody touches it, coughs on, sneezes on it or anything like that," said Klassen.

Five hunts will be held for five different age groups: 0-5, 6-9, 10-14, 15-20 and adults. There are 10 prizes for the adults with a grand prize golden egg filled with a Crown Royal Regal Apple and candy.

To ensure safety for participants, everyone will be required to wear a mask and gloves and the eggs will be spaced further apart. Unlike last year, all of the prizes will be kept in an enclosed horse trailer so they are not exposed during the event.

Klassen, who has over 20 years serving with the Navy, said he has seen pandemics in the past and worked through Y2K. Klassen wants to make sure that the humanity of why we are here on earth isn't lost.

"I really want people to understand we are here for our family and we need to care about our family even in crisis," said Klassen who considers the entire Swan Valley community his family. "Even when things seem way out of whack, getting things back to normal is important...for the kids especially because they need to learn someone cares [and how to take care of business during a crisis]."

Even though they are outside on the ball field, for the Klassens this is all about celebrating Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The event will start off with the pledge of allegiance, followed by a benediction and then the hunts will begin. There will be plenty of eggs for everyone and space to spread out.

The Klassen family organizes and funds the entire event. The Mission Mountains Mercantile, Swan Valley Centre, Hungry Bear and Liquid Louies have contributed items at cost and donated prizes to the event.

Anyone in the area is welcome to participate. Participants are asked to bring a basket, mask and gloves. No one will be allowed to participate without a mask and gloves. Klassen asks everyone who participates to be respectful of others and asks anyone who is sick to stay home.

"This will be a great opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate our blessings," said Klassen. "Let's get back to work and have some fun."