Life’s a beach

The east-end beach will play host to Footloose on Friday, July 24, explains Al Macartney, marketing director for BOB FM, beginning at dusk on a 30-foot inflatable screen. It’s the station’s fourth year showcasing outdoor movies across the city – courtesy of sponsor Hunt Club Nissan and through a city partnership – but only the second for Petrie Island, after branching out from exclusively showing at Westboro Beach, he recounts.

“With response and some of the suggestions from listeners … we realized there were other beaches we could visit,” Macartney says, then expanding their initiative to also encompass Britannia, Mooney’s Bay and Petrie.

Last year’s inaugural edition at Petrie was “a tremendous night,” he adds. “Over 1,000 people showed up.”

This summer the east-end site will host two of BOB FM’s five scheduled dates, Macartney continues, set for this weekend and Aug. 21. Using public voting via its website and the theme of ‘Summer of ’84’ – “it’s all the big hit movies of (that summer),” he explains – Footloose was selected for its first east-end engagement.

“It’s really family-oriented,” Macartney says. “We make sure the movie has broad appeal so everybody can attend.”

As for why BOB FM decided to return to the east end this summer, “because it’s a new beach, we didn’t know what to expect,” he recounts of their initial Petrie outing. “When we had over 1,000 people, we were blown away.” The “size and expanse” of the east-end site was also impressive, Macartney continues, making it a good fit for the station’s inflatable screen and expected large turnout.

From the city perspective, the parks and recreation department “is very pleased to partner with BOB FM and Hunt Club Nissan to bring this wonderful, free community event to Ottawa beaches across the city,” adds program manager Dan Brisebois. “It’s a very positive, family-oriented event.”

Last year’s initial attempt at Petrie proved to be “a great success,” he suggests.

“The weather cooperated, and hopefully that will be the case again this year,” Brisebois says, also encouraging people to vote on what movie they’d like to see for the August edition. “We’re hoping for a nice evening.”

Looking ahead to this weekend, Macartney encourages any residents planning to come out for the movie to bring their own blankets, lawn chairs or anything else to make their experience more comfortable. And though voting is currently underway for the next scheduled film, residents will be able to cast their online ballots for Petrie Island’s second movie night around Aug. 9, he adds.

For more information and to vote for Petrie Island’s next Movies on the Beach, please visit www.939bobfm.com