Many Happy Returns
Max Mee

It was a jam-packed summer at Base31! With four stages, three festivals, 15 Drill Hall shows, and a full lineup at the Sergeants Mess Hall featuring returning favourites, cabaret brunches, award-winning performers, PLUS the reveal of the Avro Lancaster KB 882 Bomber in Hangar 1, Base31 was a hub of energy this season.

This year we partnered with Many Happy Returns, a local initiative started by David Hepburn, along with his parents, Noreen Vader and David McKay in 2015. The initiative’s primary goal is to make a visible impact in the community and contribute meaningfully to local organizations. Other objectives included ensuring returnable bottles and cans were not ending up in the garbage or recycling, and to provide volunteer employment for David. This year, the initiative was taken over by Max Mee and his family, who in 2024 have raised over $10,000 through their collections. From Base31 alone, Max was able to donate over $1000 to reinvest into the community while preventing these cans from entering our landfills.

Many Happy Returns has supported organizations including the PECI Lunch Program, The Baxter Arts Centre Accessibility Ramp, Hospice Prince Edward, Marysburgh Mummers Drama Camp, Community Living, 99.3 County FM, The ROC, Greater Than Youth Collective, and Prince Edward Learning Centre, along with private donations to assist local families.

Base31 is proud to support this wonderful initiative, and we invite you to join us in celebrating Max and his family for their incredible contributions!