Numerous communities in southeast Saskatchewan will be hosting events to mark Canada’s 151st birthday.
The City of Estevan will get a head start on the festivities, as for the second straight year, it will host a pre-Canada Day bash. Celebrate the True North will be held June 29, and will start at 3 p.m. at Centennial Park.
The event will open with bouncy castles, lawn games, food trucks and face painting. Local emergency vehicles will be on display. Children’s entertainer Funtazm will perform at 4 p.m.
A beer garden will open at 8 p.m., and live music from the band Men Without Shame will start at 9 p.m.
Fireworks will occur at 10 p.m., followed by a flag rising, singing of O Canada and Happy Birthday, and the serving of birthday cake.
Carnduff will also have Canada Day celebrations early on June 29, at the town’s memorial park. A bouncy castle will start at 3 p.m., and then starting at 4 p.m., there will be henna tattoos, face painting, music and beer gardens.
Local talent will start performing at 6:30 p.m., and fireworks will occur at 10 p.m.
There will be a free swim at 1 p.m.
Bienfait’s annual Canada celebrations will kick off with a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. There will be a parade and a children’s bike parade, with judging at 9:30 a.m. and the parade starting at 10 a.m.
After the parade, there will be several activities starting at 11 a.m., including a concession operated by the Southern Plains Co-op, a toonie swim, a trade show, cake cutting, a cake walk, a dunk tank, a mini firemen’s rodeo, a petting zoo, bouncy castles and glitter tattoos.
The Bienfait Coalfields Historical Museum will be open starting at 10 a.m.
There will also be a kiss a pig at 3 p.m. The individual who receives the most donations will have to kiss the pig. Amanda Pukas, Bonnie Bernhardt, Chris Dupuis and Adriean Bachorcik are entered.
The Firemen versus Farmers softball game will be at 3:30 p.m.
Festivities will end with fireworks at dusk. Donations will be accepted to offset the cost of the fireworks.
“All of the money the money that gets raised on Canada Day goes towards the Bienfait Rec. Board, which then divides out all the money to all of the facilities and minor sports associations in Bienfait,” said Amanda Pukas, the chair of the recreation board. “That includes the curling rink, hockey rink, library, minor ball and minor hockey, and the school is also involved with that as well.”
The Oungre Memorial Regional Park’s Canada Day bash will start with a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. A community church service will happen at 10:30 a.m., as will children’s activities. A parade will be at 1 p.m., and a music jamboree will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Performers for the jamboree include the Jack Semple Band, the Daae Family, the Bobby Bowen Family Band, the Olsons, Jeff Nelson, the Rudes and the Hansen Trio.
The Estevan Kinsmen and Kinettes Clubs will host their annual Canada Day bash at their playpark in the Hillside subdivision, starting at 11 a.m. Those who attend can look forward to games, activities, swimming, food and more to celebrate Canada’s birthday.
