Like the spring seasons where the runoff can trickle like barely open tap or rip like a raging torrent, one never really knows what the end results of the Rotary Club of Picton’s annual waterfalls tour will be.

A popular Easter weekend distraction made possible by club organizers and land owners at Jackson’s Falls and Cape Vesey, poor weather can always hamper the event. Early and late Easters can also impact the tour-the “It’s too early” or the “You should have seen it last weekend” type scenarios playing themselves out.

(Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)

But everything came together in 2023 and the tour was a record breaking success for the local service club. In total, $19,675 was raised this weekend for a number of initiatives supported by the local Rotary club while over 5,000 entires were logged by the club at both locations.

“Of course there duplicates and folks who only attended one location and then there were people who didn’t sign in it all,” Rotary’s Glendon Walker told the Gazette Monday. “Nevertheless, we figure about 5,000 people showed up this weekend. And of course, the amount raised was a record.”

Rotary’s previous -ahem- high water mark was reached in 2018 when around 4,200 visitors donated upwards of $10,000.

Visitors from all over take the opportunity to support clean water initiatives in developing countries and enjoy the splendour of rushing water cascading from high locales at the locations in North and South Marysburgh wards.

Jackson’s Falls, just outside of Milford, and Cape Vesey, east of Waupoos, remain popular destinations for families looking to work off some Easter ham and maybe snap a picture of the ‘rarely seen’ natural beauty although that common descriptor might need to be retired as it seems the crowds get larger with each passing year.

As part of their mission to provide service to others, Rotary International believes clean water and sanitation is a human right and when people, especially children, have access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, they lead healthier and more successful lives.

The club will once again make contributions to clean water projects across the world as it has in years past but funds raised in 2023 will also support the Back the Build Campaign and other initiatives such as Ukrainian relief.

“This year we are going to spread it around a little more,” Walker added.

Among those attending this weekend’s tour was the Sherstone family from Brockville. Lori Sherstone said she and her children have friends in Picton and they enjoyed the tour in 2022 it has become an Easter tradition.

“We moved from BC two years ago so the waterfalls in Prince Edward County kind of remind us of being back on the west coast,” Sherstone told the Gazette.”They really are beautiful and we enjoy them. And of course it’s for a good cause.”