With only one day to go before one of Burnaby's biggest festivals kicks off, volunteers at Deer Lake Park are getting ready to host the thousands of people expected to pass through the gates on Saturday.
Longtime volunteer Jim McQueen is one of the many volunteers needed to run the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival.
Now retired, McQueen began volunteering for events at Deer Lake Park five years ago and hasn't looked back.
"I volunteered for the one (festival) and then they sort of just ran one after the other," he says.
McQueen spends his time volunteering at the various festivals hosted at Deer Lake Park. The Blues and Roots Festival - in its 14th year this summer - is one of the highlights of McQueen's volunteer work.
"I've done different things over the years, I've done the disabled area, helped people get situated in the special area, I've worked over at the VIP area where they have all the food," he says.
This year McQueen will be outside the venue, directing people through the gates as they get off the shuttle buses (there will be no on-site parking available at Deer Lake Park).
This might just be the perfect post for McQueen, who says interacting with people is his favourite part of volunteering.
"I love Burnaby, and I think to live here one should participate and give back to the community," he says.
McQueen has lived in Burnaby for more than 30 years and while he's done a bit of volunteering over the years, he says retirement has given him more time to participate in the community.
"I didn't realize the opportunities there were for volunteering in the community, and I think it's one of those things where you start one - you volunteer at one place, and then you hear about other volunteer opportunities," he says.
And people can do as much or as little volunteering as they'd like, he says.
At the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival, McQueen starts his day around 10 a.m., arriving at Deer Lake Park to check in and get his volunteer vest.
"Then you get sent off to your designated area," he says. "I'll be there for five hours."
Once McQueen finishes his shift, he gets to partake in the festival free of charge, a nice treat for volunteers, he says.
"I've seen some good (acts)," he says. Headliner Blue Rodeo is expected on stage at about 8:30 p.m., and McQueen says he's quite excited to see them.
"Some of the other (bands), I've heard of them but am not overly familiar," he says. "I think a lot of people are there for the musical experience."
The Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival kicks off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Deer Lake Park.
For more information on the event or to buy tickets, visit www.burnabyblues festival.com.
