On this 144th birthday of our country and 150th anniversary year for our city, the July 1 celebrations know no bounds.
"The celebration is all over town," said Roy Bedford, community recreation co-ordinator for the City of St. Albert. Canada Day celebrations will be held throughout the downtown core, at Lions Park, Kinsmen Park, the Michif Métis Living Museum, Grain Elevator Park, the St. Albert Botanic Park and Heritage Lakes.
Start your day with a pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., hosted by the Heritage Lakes Community Association.
You can end the partying some 12 to 13 hours later on Seven Hills as you watch the fireworks.
In between there will be a festive celebration designed to bring out everyone's patriotic goose bumps along with the passion-filled singing of O Canada.
"It's a joint celebration involving many different groups and volunteers and we hope it will give people the opportunity to celebrate Canada Day but also to have a taste of what is in this community for different demographics of people, from young to old," Bedford said.
The total celebration for city-organized events costs approximately $29,000. The city contributes $12,000 for the fireworks. There is a $5,000 Heritage Canada grant for entertainment at Lions Park and the remainder is covered by sponsorship provided by the Saint City Rotary Club, Save-On-Foods, ACT/UCT Club and East Side Mario's Restaurant.
Transportation
Parking is limited but the city is providing a free park and ride from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. City transit buses will link the botanic park, the Michif centre, the grain elevators and Lions Park. The public is invited to park at St. Albert Centre and ride from there.
The horse and wagon rides will start from near the airplane on Taché Street and the Red Willow Trail facilitates the enjoyment of many activities, so it will be easy to walk or cycle from event to event.
Because it is St. Albert's 150th anniversary, La Fête Albertaine Society is hosting its annual Canada Day celebration in St. Albert this year at Kinsmen Park.
"It's a chance to celebrate our francophone culture here," said society spokesperson Liliane Peddicord.
At noon there will be several food kiosks at Kinsmen Park. Each kiosk will be hosted by a different group representing countries such as France, Angola, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Burundi and Côte d'Ivoire. Coupons for this event are $1 each, with every menu selection having a different coupon price.
At 1:30 p.m., the formal Fête Albertaine celebrations get under way with the singing of O Canada in French followed at 4 p.m. by a play called Les Trois FrÈres Harois, which tells the story of three pioneer settlers in St. Albert.
Lions Park
Celebrations begin at 11 a.m. at Lions Park with the formal ceremony scheduled for noon, which includes the singing of O Canada, led by Martha Livingstone from Innovations Music and accompanied by the St. Albert Community Band.
"There will be continual activity, food and entertainment. Games and fun for all ages includes face painting, bouncy things, road hockey with the St. Albert Steel and in addition, public works staff will be there so people can go up in a cherry-picker," Bedford said.
The Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group will be on site with a Light Armoured Vehicle.
St. Albert Botanic Park volunteers will provide strawberries, cake and ice cream from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Admission is a donation.
Evening events
Brand new this year is the Family Street Dance, held in the plaza out front of St. Albert Place from 5 to 7 p.m.
At 7:30 p.m. the site will be transformed for the Battle of the Bands, hosted by the 150th anniversary committee.
And to cap off the day, fireworks will be launched from Seven Hills at 11 p.m.
"Rough estimates for last year were approximately 20,000 people attended Canada Day events, including the fireworks. It is a day to celebrate that we are Canadian. It's a time to sing O Canada together and to all play together in the same celebration," Bedford said.
