Morinville Festival Society changes mind on chair

by Morinville News Staff

Just one month after announcing that Morinville Festival Society Vice Chair David LeBel would step into the Chair role after Festival Chair Paul Smith steps down, the society has reversed its decision at their June 3 meeting.

The new decision will see Society member and Farmers’ Market Manager Korien Sampson take over the top slot when Smith steps back at the end of this year’s St. Jean Baptiste Festival.

In May Smith had said he was stepping back, not down from the group he has been an active part in for the past half decade.

According to Smith, the reversal of the decision was to give LeBel, a recent member, another year on the board before taking over. “There is no question as to David’s leadership. Korien has six plus years of experience knowing the Town’s administration people and public works,” Smith said, adding those connections will be beneficial on the road ahead. “David has the workhorse skills and the energy to propel us forward. What we were thinking we needed at this time was to rely on experience. Then as David has more experience, he will go into the Chair position.”

Smith said the decision to put Sampson in as Chair was unanimous.

This year’s St. Jean Baptiste Festival begins in two weeks – June 19-21.

Click here for our original story on Festival Society Chair Paul Smith’s decision to step back.

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