What started as a car show turned into a staple event within the City of Morden for the past 11 years. The Downtown Morden Block Party organizers say the event will not be happening this year after great consideration.

One of the Organizers James Steedsman said at the post-event meeting the group felt burnt-out after the 2017 event.

"We were all in the same kind of the same mind that we didn't want to go backward, said Steedsman in response to starting planning in January. "We didn't want to downsize it from what it had become over the past 11 years. We just came to the conclusion that the three of us (Steedsman, Jeff Sit, and John Rempel) sitting around the table, just couldn't do it."

"There's nobody more disappointed than we are," added Steedsman.

Steedsman continued to say they are thrilled with what the event had grown into over its time and with what they needed to do to take it to the next step would require some assistance.

The committee, organizers, and volunteers gave their heart and soul to The Block Party over the past 11 years. It evolved from a modest car show, kid’s park and entertainment that took up 2 blocks of downtown Morden, into multiple events, displays, food vendors, and entertainment encompassing a full 6 blocks in downtown Morden.

"Not in a million years, no," said Steedsman when asked if they ever thought the event would ever get this big. "We really didn't even know if there would be the second one because we didn't know what it would become."

Even though the end, which was scheduled for June 2nd this summer won't be happening the committee/organizers aren't saying the event won't come back sometime in the future.

"Maybe a year or two from now, we maybe have more people on board or something else might arise or a different situation we might be able to resurrect it," said Steedsman. "For this year we just figured it would be better to just to leave it and quit while we're on top so to say."

A news release from the Block Party Committee stated: The sole purpose of the Block Party was to showcase local businesses and to say "thanks" to our customers by offering a free day of fun, food, and entertainment.

Also during the 11 years, the event served as a fundraiser for the Morden Youth for Christ, and more recently, Pembina Valley Humane Society with over $40,000 being raised for the two.

"That's something that we are super proud of," said Steedsman. "I know YFC has been able to do a few things that they may not have been able to do before and I know the Humane Society is always looking at funding for kennels and stuff like that."

Both the YFC and Humane Society felt this was not only a benefit or them but was another way for both parties to give back to the community.