Girl's basketball team brings car wash to trade show
Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (May 11/01) - While the annual trade show has long heralded the coming of spring in the minds of many Yellowknifers, another less welcome harbinger in muddy tires and dirty windshields has most local car owners searching for the nearest car wash.
That is why Butch Bisaro, coach of the Dempsey Futures local high performance basketball team of girls age 15-18, figures the 2001 spring trade show will provide a perfect opportunity to raise funds for the team.
With hundreds of cars and trucks filling the parking lot at the Yellowknife Community Arena over the weekend, Bisaro thought it would be a good idea to bring the car wash to the cars.
"What happens is the guy has to wait in line to get his car washed and people don't like to do that," Bisaro said. "So I was thinking the trade show was coming up, and it's Mother's Day, so I wondered if I could pursue a way to get the cars washed where the cars are."
Bisaro approached the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce with his idea and was pleasantly surprised to get the go-ahead.
A friend from Edmonton who sells portable car wash units had been hoping to showcase his product and though he was unable to secure a booth for the event, he was more than happy to supply the team with his company's services.
The girls will provide a valet and car washing service right outside the trade show doors for $10 per vehicle. The proceeds will go towards funding team trips outside of Yellowknife, including this July's Canada Summer Games in London, Ont. Ten per cent of the money raised will also go to the Alison McAteer House.
"It's a good time for a car wash," says Bisaro. "It's all dusty this time of year. We'll be praying for sunshine."
As for the girls, co-captain Tara Bower says fund-raising events are a good way to bring the team closer together.
"It doesn't take too long to do (washing cars)," Bower says. "It's a team bonding thing and we all get to know each other better."
