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ASSINIBOIA — You may have become familiar with Pi Day, an annual celebration of the mathematical constant π (pi) held on March 14 (3/14), recognizing the first three digits of the number: 3.14. It is celebrated by math enthusiasts, students and educators worldwide with activities like eating pie, baking and calculating competitions to promote interest in mathematics.
The continued creativity and spirit of volunteers in Assiniboia have created a slice of tradition as Assiniboia’s Shurniak Art Gallery Pie Day keeps the community smiling. The inaugural event expanded on the idea of Pi Day and has become an instant hit in the community, now running once a month.
Liz Roberts, a Shurniak Art Gallery volunteer, told the Assiniboia Times, “The original idea of Pie Day came about as a result of a volunteer meeting called to include all volunteers at the gallery. Following the closing of the restaurant in the gallery, we found we were missing the foot traffic that had been attracted by that venue. We wanted something else to attract a viewing audience to our exhibits.”
At the time, Roberts acknowledged there were three outside exhibits on display and very few people were seeing them. Debbie Scheltgen, a retired restaurant operator at the gallery, raised several ideas, one of which was to sell several pieces of pie one day a month. Scheltgen told SAG volunteers that people who make homemade pie are few and far between, so people would go anywhere to experience homemade pie.
A slice of taste and tradition keeps Assiniboia smiling
“The retired restaurant owner was right. After receiving permission from the gallery's board of directors to proceed with the idea, one of the board members approached us to ask if we would hold our first Pie Day on the mathematical Pi Day, March 14 of each year, so we did. Evie Schultz came up with some raffles and draws to encourage people to walk through the exhibition rooms, proving that ‘people will do almost anything for a free pie.’”
The first baking day that supplied SAG Pie Day had 102 slices of pie sold, so the board and volunteers knew they had to continue.
“Even if not everybody visited the art works, it was great to see people visiting with one another; sharing tables; participating in the games; and generally making themselves at home in the gallery. This was one of the purposes of the event. In addition to increasing the number of viewers, we wanted people to feel ‘at home’ in the space. On top of that, the volunteers who worked at the event had so much fun with one another, it was something we wanted to do again,” added Schultz.
SAG has 32 volunteers on its roster. Some participate once in a while and others form a stable crew who come out almost every month on both baking day and Pie Day.
“It takes 22 people in total to carry out one month of the event, six on baking day, and 16 on Pie Day. Some of our volunteers work both days. Others work one shift on one day.”
Schultz said when they began the project, they asked volunteers for one or two days per month and, with each person’s strengths, the group is able to draw on those strengths each month.
“Crust us,” said Schultz, “No matter how we’re involved, there is a lot of laughter, kidding, story-telling, hugs and even, on occasion, tears. We share a lot and we support one another. We’re discovering one another’s unique attributes and cheering on one another’s families. There are so much talent and skill in our kitchen and dining room that if one person suddenly has to drop out, the others compensate without missing a beat.”
SAG Pie Day is the filling everyone craves
This unique and highly popular project is partially a fundraiser for the Shurniak Art Gallery, but has proven over and over again that it also includes fun-raising components.
“We are pleased to make a sizeable donation each month to the gallery. On average, we serve 90 people each month, and our present goal is to top our highest number, which was 108 people,” added the SAG volunteer.
The event created another component with a pie raffle, and Schultz said it has become quite popular and no one has won more than once. Two different homemade pies are raffled each time, with the draw held at noon on each Pie Day.
Following the June 18 event, the group will be busy with the Garden Party on June 28 and Anniversary Tea on Aug. 8 before taking the summer off, but will resume again in October. Pie Days are held the third Thursday of every month.
