Dust off your mad caps or make your own at the ninth annual Mad Hatters Parade and Tea Party in support of mental health.
Organizer Catherine Larnon-Trout, also known as the Mad Hatter Lady, is hoping sunshine will prevail over this year’s free community event.
Tea served in china cups and scones, donated by Hansel and Gretel Bakery, will be available – including butter, jam, and cream.
There will be live entertainment and music.
Guests can make their own hats or bring their own and then join the Parade of Hats.
Prizes will be handed out for the best looking hats.
And, most importantly, Larnon-Trout is hoping people who attend will have meaningful conversations about mental illness.
According to the Lower Mainland branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, between 20 to 26 per cent of British Columbians, about one million people, will experience a mental illness each year.
And, around 84,000 children and youth in the province have a diagnosed mental disorder. Yet, less than one-third of those children are receiving mental health services, about 58,000 children.
Larnon-Trout is trying to change those statistics with events like the Mad Hatters Parade and Tea Party. But, she is also trying to develop a new social enterprise organisation called Bridging the Gap.
“This will be the umbrella over many projects and partnerships including The Mad Hatters Festival but expanding our reach to other organisations, agencies, communities,” she explained about her plans.
This year donations will be going to the Pathfinder Youth Centre Society, a non-profit charity that empowers youth who face various obstacles to employment – including homelessness, mental health challenges, substance abuse, involvement with the ministry, or entanglement in the judicial system – to achieve success in their lives and within the community.
Festivities take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, in Memorial Peace Park, on 224 Street, between Dewdney Trunk Road and Lougheed Highway in Maple Ridge.