The Town of Raymond is set for a big celebration.
On Friday, Sept. 25, community members will come together to watch some football, enjoy a barbecue and fireworks, and celebrate volunteerism in the southern Alberta town.
The evening at Comet Stadium in the Victoria Sports Park marks Raymond’s second annual ‘Harvest Showdown and Volunteer Appreciation Night’.
The free, family-friendly event will see the Raymond High School Comets football team face the Chinook High School Coyotes and at halftime, there will be a ceremony celebrating a local volunteer.
The 2026 recipient of the Council Volunteer Appreciation Award is Maxine West.
She has served as the secretary of Raymond Baseball for over three decades and was a junior high and high school coach for over 20 years.
“Maxine is very well deserving,” said Raymond mayor Bryce Coppieters.
“She’s been an integral part in what baseball has been able to do. For the last few years, she hasn’t had any kids involved, but she still goes out of her way to volunteer in that capacity. She’s helped down at the museum, rearranged things and helped organize things there, and [helped with] a few other groups that she’s been a part of.”
The mayor added, “We really appreciate Maxine and her contributions to the town.”
Last year’s recipient was Pam Stewart, with Coppieters noting that volunteerism plays an important role in a community like Raymond. He said an event like the one planned for Friday is a prime example of community togetherness.
“As a mayor, it makes me feel really good when people come together, to help each other, to grow together and work out problems together, it’s fantastic and having an event like this, that brings our community together, is always fun,” he told My Lethbridge Now.
LITTLE FREE PANTRIES
Coppieters said the Little Free Pantry Board will also be collecting donations of hygiene products to restock the Little Free Pantries in town.
That program makes food and hygiene products available to those in need, for free, at three different locations around Raymond, including:
- The Food Shed (Seniors Centre) at 55E 100 N
- The Outdoor Little Pantry (Raymond Clinic) at 15 Broadway S
- The Indoor Pantry (Library) at 150 N 400 E
Coppieters added that volunteers will drop off ‘Target Hunger’ bags to residents in town this week and collect donations on Sept. 29 to help restock the community pantries.
“We know that right now, food scarcity is challenging, and this group has done a fantastic job at organizing things,” he remarked.
FRIDAY FUN
The free ‘Harvest Showdown and Volunteer Appreciation Night ‘ will include the following:
- 4:30 to 6 p.m. – Barbecue with supper for the first 1,000 attendees, with food from Raymond Mercantile and chips donated by Frito-Lay.
- Face painting by the Broadway Dance Cheerleaders.
- 6 to 8 p.m. – Raymond Comets football vs. Chinook Coyotes
- Halftime – Council Volunteer Appreciation Award ceremony, performance by Broadway Dance Cheerleaders, and recognition of the Chamber Business of the Year Award.
- Fireworks to close out the evening, presented by Raymond Dental Clinic.
Coppieters said there will be lots of parking, but attendees might want to arrive early. Last year’s inaugural event welcomed over 1,000 attendees.
