A group of clowns will be warming up the crowd before the Canada Day parade marches through downtown Courtenay and over the Fifth Street Bridge.
These entertainers are part of the Caring Clowns of the Comox Valley — formerly the Comox Valley Clown Club — which meets monthly at the Lewis Centre.
The all ages group consists of a dozen or so members, most of whom are in their 70s. They would like to add some younger people to their membership.
“Clowns are called warmers,” said Lois Lupkoski, who is on the verge of turning 70 years young. “It’s a new adventure for me. I’ve been trying to be a clown for three years. They call me ‘clown-in-training’.”
She said there are a number of rules to becoming a clown. For instance, Lupkoski found a mask with a wig at a garage sale, thinking her find was a suitable start to becoming a clown. The club, however, does not allow masks.
“You have to be careful approaching people,” she said, noting some children have never seen a clown.
Aside from greeting crowds at parades, members entertain at birthday parties, and pay visits to care homes, where they dress up and sing songs for residents.
If interested in joining, the group meets at 1 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month at the Lewis Centre.