Ironmen and women will be biking through Pemberton Aug. 25, meaning there are lots of opportunities to watch the spectacle and volunteer while you’re at it. This grueling event will start in Whistler at 7 a.m. and pit athletes against the challenge of completing a 3.8-kilometre swim, a 180-kilometre bike, and last but by no means least, run a marathon (42 kilometres).

A group of Pemberton locals attended an information meeting recently at the community centre to find out about volunteer opportunities. Local non-profit groups like sports clubs, daycares and community organizations were encouraged to sign up. Groups that run aid stations can apply to the Ironman Foundation Charity for a grant to support their organization. The application deadline is March 15, so there’s no time to lose. For details, visit www.pemberton.ca/welcome/ and click on Ironman Foundation.

For volunteers and spectators, this event will bring about 2,500 athletes and their families and friends to the corridor, so enthusiastic volunteers will help to make the Whistler Ironman a must-do event as it is contracted to take place for five years.

Even though Ironman is months away, athletes are already coming to our area to train. One Pemberton Meadows resident expressed concern over the safety of cyclists on the Meadows Road and encouraged motorists to be aware and take care on the road.

Visit www.ironman.ca to find out more about Ironman and to check out volunteer opportunities.

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Gather up your pirates and princesses for the annual Pirate and Princess Play Date this Saturday (March 9) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pemberton Community Centre. Bring the whole family, dressed in your best pirate and princess outfits, of course, to enjoy this free, fun play date. Parent participation is a must. Brought to you by Growing Great Children.

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The Pemberton Library Film Club’s selection for March is Broken, directed by Rufus Norris. This drama from the U.K. tells the story of 11-year-old Skunk at the beginning of summer holidays complete with daydreams and curious wanderings. But all is not idyllic. Skunk must regularly give herself injections to combat her diabetes; and one day she discovers her bitter and angry neighbour beating a troubled boy from the neighbourhood. Skunk’s innocence begins to vanish.

Showtime is 7 p.m. on March 21 and make sure to check out the movie night dinner special at One Mile Eatery before you go.

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The Kids’ Closet Cleanout is back. This annual event, hosted by Growing Great Children, is a great opportunity for families to clean out closets and make some money to reinvest in your kids. This indoor garage sale is all kids stuff — toys, clothes, books, sports gear, maternity clothes and whatever else you want to move along.

Tables are $10, or just come on by to shop for treasures. To book a table, call or email Natalie at ngauvreau@hotmail.com or 604-902-9096.

The clean out takes place Saturday, April 6, 10 a.m. to noon at the Cottonwood Community Centre.

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Save the date — Chicks with Picks, Pemberton’s band of female guitarists, is having a 10th anniversary celebration. On Saturday evening, May 11, the Chicks will gather at The Pony in Pemberton for an evening of cocktails, dinner and music to celebrate 10 years of Chicks With Picks.

Sue Stearns, the musician behind the Chicks, is trying to contact everyone who ever took the Chicks with Picks class and also performed in the more than 80 shows the group has done since the first performance at the Pony in March 2004 for a Signal Hill school fundraiser.

Stearns began offering classes at the Pemberton Community Centre in February 2003. Stearns is working on updating the history of all The Chicks’ performances and is putting together a slide show for the event. Anyone who has any memories or photos to share is asked to forward them to Sue as she prepares for the evening.

The Chicks are also jamming at the Legion the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30 to be ready for the event.

For more information, email Sue at suechickswithpicks@gmail.com or call 604-894-1886.

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Send comments and event listing ideas to itsmegrace@hotmail.com. The next Pemberton column will appear March 21.