The Canada Day celebration at John Peake Park was a fantastic success with many residents and guests taking in the festivities throughout the day.
If you were taking advantage of the long weekend and slept a few extra hours no worries as the pancake breakfast ran from 8 to 12. Town of Chestermere staff was doing their best to feed the never ending line up hungry party goers. If pancakes didn’t suit your palate then many other choices were available from the private food vendors that dotted the grounds.
The staff from Community Services joined the celebration by providing Canadian Maple Leaf Tattoos, Canada pins and flags to the mostly young lined up at their tent. A large map of Canada was mounted inside and participants dotted the world with red circles to show their country of origin. With all the markers across the map it certainly was a diverse crowd attending the event.
Allison MacDonald, Christmas with Dignity volunteer and volunteer for the day was polling residents about their experience of living in Chestermere in the Community Services Inclusion Survey. Patti Brown, Community Development Manager said, “What makes them Feel Welcome” basically is what we are trying to find out.” Other questions on the survey asked about their neighborhood, did they know other’s by name and what countries were they from. Results will be useful for future considerations in services and programs offered by this group in building community and ensuring resources for all.
The Fire Department and RCMP came to the park providing sunscreen and bug spray in a most timely manner as the empty shelves at Shoppers Drug Mart attested to in response to the mosquito swarms that had arrived with the heat.
Throughout the day there were many activities and games for the kids to enjoy as well as wagon rides down along the northwest shoreline. Daytime activities focused on traditional kids’ picnic games while evening activities included Bounce House, a Magician and a Hula Hoop contest.
The entertainment on stage throughout the day was top notch with music starting at 9 am with the Keister Family Fiddlers. The variety show included dance numbers from Indigenous Dance Studio and Calgary Dance Express. The lively group Mercat Cross kept the energy flowing enticing dancers to the floor while Minerva‘s eclectic and soul stirring music was a delight to all. The young and upcoming Carolina Portilla from Calgary rounded out the event with her original tunes performed on guitar.
Something new for those with two left feet or those wanting to tune up their dance steps was the Latin dance lessons offered in salsa and bachata at beginner and intermediate levels. Inspiring would be dancers were dance performances by Oliver Miguel and Ellen Doty
Later in the evening was a chance to show off newly acquired dance skills at the “Salsa on the Lake” social dance which ran from 8:30 to midnight. There was a $10 cover charge with all proceeds going to Alzheimer’s Society of Alberta.
No birthday party is complete without the cake and after 9 was served in time to give a little energy boost for the late evening fireworks and Movie in the Park.
Thanks to all the Town of Chestermere Staff for their efforts and time in making this a great day for all of us as well as the private vendors who came to support our country’s birthday. Happy Birthday Canada, you look really good for a country that’s 146 years old!
