Community children cheerily came to campus

By Medha Subrami

The 5th annual Campus Fair attracted between 8-10 thousand Calgarian children and family members for an afternoon of fun and learning on the University of Calgary campus Sat., Jun. 9.

Organizers of the university’s large-scale open house invited the Calgary community to campus and featured 70 interactive exhibits, a free barbeque for the first 5,000 visitors, music and child-focused entertainment, including dancing, music and face painting.

“It does cost the U of C about $40,000,” said U of C director of community relations, Allison MacKenzie. “It is our biggest community outreach event of the year.”

U of C student and mother of two Debra Popplewell said although there was room for improvement, the campus fair was a great way to spend a day with family.

“They loved it,” said Popplewell. “The kids loved the science and engineering area.”

The U of C advertised the event with the Calgary Board of Education and the Calgary Catholic School District, and targeted grades four through six.

“It’s not about getting our numbers up for September, or getting kids with 92 per cent or any of that,” said MacKenzie. “Its truly about reaching out to Calgary and getting people onto campus to see what they have supported and created here and to encourage school-age children to think about university as a place that’s fun and engaging.”

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