Parades planned for Creemore’s Canada 150

 In Events, News, Visit Creemore

Canada Day is in one week and plans are in place for a full day of festivities.

New this year for Canada 150, a parade is being added to the event roster. People are encouraged to either come out and watch the parade or take part.

The parade is being organized by Pauline MacIntosh and Ken Day. They welcome people to celebrate Canada’s 150-year history, with an emphasis on dress and transportation.

Day said he remembers the wonderful celebrations during Canada’s centennial and they hope to replicate the same level of enthusiasm. The parade will travel up Mill Street from George Street to Wellington Street W. and then turn right on Collingwood Street to end at the Creemore Arena. To register, call 705-816-6311.

The parade will follow the annual Harold Crawford Memorial Kids’ Bike Parade, which begins at 1 p.m. Youth are invited to decorate their bicycles with a Canadian theme and meet at Mad River Park in time for the start.

After the parades there will be birthday cake and Olde Thyme Games at the Legion and participants will receive a special 150th anniversary confederation medal.

Also at the Legion, Lee Anning is mounting an exhibit of select pieces from his memorabilia collection. He has chosen about 80 pieces that are quintessential Canadian – an 1855 illustration of moose hunting in Canada from the Illustrated London News, Expo programs, pictures of the Queen, a CN Tower bumper sticker, a Canadian Pacific magazine ad, a 1976 Montreal Olympic poster, a 1939 Globe and Mail article about the Dionne Quintuplets, wartime memorabilia and much more.

The flag collector will also have flags on display such as the seven-by-14-foot flag with only seven provincial shields from between 1873 and 1905, and that’s the small one, said Anning. Canada didn’t have an official flag until 1922. Anning has one to show and another from 1957, when three minor changes were made to the design.

There will be food and drink available throughout the day with the Legion ladies cooking brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and lunch from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and the firefighters cooking dinner at the arena at 6 p.m.

An official ceremony begins at 8 p.m., with the singing of the National Anthem and the Man and Woman of the Year presentations and then The Steve Baker Magic Show will entertain while people wait for the fireworks at dusk. Organizers will be passing the boot to raise money to pay for the fireworks so be sure to donate. Donations can also be made at collection jars around town, or send a cheque to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 397, 27 Wellington St. W., Creemore, ON, L0M 1G0. People are also welcome to donate online at www.gofundme.com/150th-anniversary-of-confederation.

A Canada Day three-on-three ball hockey tournament begins at 9:30 a.m. in front of the Legion. Participants are invited to register as a team or an individual in the competitive or family division. Cost is $15 per player. Games will be played Veterans Way, between the Creemore Arena and the Legion, where most Canada Day activities are taking place throughout the day. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Games start at 10:30 a.m. To sign up, or for more information, e-mail Ed Van Severen at edvanseveren@gmail.com.

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