• Without the parade, this weekend’s Friendship Day in Lennoxville, now in its 34th year, will include many of the events that community members love year after year. Organizers are hoping for a last-minute change in the weather prediction and, fingers crossed, permission to let off fireworks at the Bishop’s football field on Saturday night.

• However, due to a variety of factors, there will be no procession this year, he stated.

• “We won’t rule it out completely,” he added, but after canceling the event fully in 2020 and 2021, the committee has to reestablish some stability during the reconstruction years and assess the available resources before considering a parade again.

• “It’s a big commitment,” Smith said, adding that the road closure now requires working with the provincial ministry of transportation, and permission requests must be made considerably sooner.

• “There are a lot of positives in this type of format,” Smith noted.

• compared to last year’s event, which saw a continuous flow of guests throughout the day rather than a massive rush around the parade.

• According to Smith, the aim for this year is to focus on community development and to spotlight and promote what is going on in Lennoxville.

• Friendship Day, historically observed on the first Sunday of August, is a unique day dedicated to honouring the tie of friendship. While the major focus of Friendship Day has always been on cherishing and honoring friends, the notion has developed over time to include larger issues such as community development.

• In recent years, there has been a rising acknowledgment of the important role that friendships play in developing healthy and supportive communities. The goal behind highlighting community development on Friendship Day is to inspire people to expand their friendship and goodwill beyond their immediate social circles and contribute positively to their communities at large.
• Various events and initiatives are planned on Friendship Day to encourage community development. These activities might vary based on the local environment and the community’s particular requirements. Some examples of common efforts include:
• Community Service Projects: A group of friends gets together to do volunteer work or community service projects. Cleaning up public places, arranging fundraising events for local organizations, or working in community development initiatives are examples of such activities.
• Friends work together to raise awareness about social issues or concerns impacting their community through awareness campaigns. This might include arranging seminars, workshops, or public conversations on environmental conservation, mental health, poverty reduction, or education.
• Supportive Networks: Friends form support networks in their areas to help people in need. This might involve developing mentorship programs for young people, forming support groups for certain populations such as the elderly or underprivileged areas, or launching efforts to assist local enterprises in flourishing.
• Cultural Exchange Programs: Friends organize cultural exchange activities to highlight the variety of their community. Sharing traditions, practices, and experiences may help to create understanding and encourage inclusion.
• Friends work together on creative initiatives that benefit the community as a group. This might involve putting on art exhi
• bitions, music concerts, or theatrical plays that bring people together and showcase local talent.

During Friendship Day, the emphasis on community development strives to harness the power of friendship and solidarity to address social difficulties and make a good effect. Friendship Day urges individuals to extend their friendship beyond personal connections and strive towards the benefit of their communities by promoting a sense of solidarity and collective responsibility.