Canada Day celebrations across the country had a different look this year, but many communities in the southeast and throughout Canada were still able to have something to mark this country’s 153rd birthday.
The Oungre Memorial Regional Park had a fun day of activities. Members of the antique auto club in Weyburn came down and displayed their vehicles. About 40 vehicles were on display.
“We were quite impressed with the turnout,” said park manager Suzanne Brown.
The annual tractor parade made its way through the park, and children decorated their bicycles for another parade.
“We do have a lot of seasonal campers here, so of course some of them were associated with it, such as grandkids or children,” she said.
Brown emphasized that social distancing was followed throughout the activities.
Fireworks in the evening wrapped up the festivities. She lauded the company that they worked with for the display.
“They had very short notice to get it to us, and they got it to us on Tuesday (June 30),” said Brown.
A country gospel jamboree is typically one of the highlights of Canada Day in Oungre, but that couldn’t happen this year due to current restrictions for live music. Brown said people missed having the live music, and she hopes it can return next year.
Still, they managed to attract 200-300 people for the day.
Meanwhile, Mainprize Regional Park also had activities for people of all ages. Business manager Donna Frank said they started with some children’s crafts, with sponge painting that attracted about 50 kids. The young people were divided into three different sessions in the park hall.
Staff members helped out with the children’s activities.
“They had to register, and it didn’t take any time at all, and we were full. People were really looking forward to having something to do,” said Frank.
Then there was a parade with golf carts and all-terrain vehicles through the park. Campers, park residents and other people decorated their vehicles for the parade. She believes there were 25 people entered for the event.
“We had some really unique ideas this year,” said Frank. “They drive through, past the houses and the campsites for all to see.”
It’s an annual tradition at the park that people look forward to seeing.
Fireworks were lit at about 10:15 p.m. There was a slight delay due to thunderstorm activity in the area, and once the show began, Frank said it proved to be great.
“For the fireworks … I would have to guess we had over a thousand people who probably had the opportunity of seeing them because the park was probably 90 per cent full, and a lot of the residents even invited guests out. People drive here from the surrounding RMs and towns and villages around us. It’s really become a community event.”
Other communities had celebrations as well.
In Carnduff, the Choose Life Ministry, which operates a residential program for young women facing life-controlling issues, held a fireworks show that attracted many people.
Oxbow, meanwhile, held a fireworks show at the Bow Valley Regional Park on July 3.
