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All systems go for annual Canada Day celebrations

Staff

Dig out your finest red and white clothes and accessories and get ready for a day chock full of activities for all ages. On Wednesday, July 1 the Town of Rimbey will host its annual Canada Day celebrations with most of the fun at Pas-Ka-Poo Park.

“From 8 to 11, we’ll be holding the Rimbey Historical Society’s pancake breakfast and their concession will run from 11 to 3 p.m.,” said Judy Lamb-Richardson, recreation program director for the Town of Rimbey. “Then, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., all the park activities will be held, including barrel-train rides for ages 12 and under starting at 11 a.m., hay rides beginning at 11 a.m., the balloon artist and face painting from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., donkey rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., mini-golf from 10 a.m. to 4:00 as well as tours of the historic village at Pas-Ka-Poo Park.”

Lamb-Richardson added that while a majority of activities are free, there would be a nominal charge for both mini-golf and the tour.

Other activities planned for the day include some excellent musical performances from the Trincan Band, a group of performers from Edmonton who bring an authentic Caribbean sound and exuberance thanks in large part to their prowess on converted oil drums that provide a unique sound and rhythm that’s sure to have patrons on their feet dancing or at the very least, tapping their toes.

The exact time of their performances had not been confirmed as of press time, however according to Lamb-Richardson, their first performance will be held from 11 a.m. to noon, or from 10 a.m. to noon, adding that it’ll be the first visit of that kind to Rimbey for Canada Day.

“The Legion parade and ceremonies will begin at 1 p.m. followed by the reaffirmation oath of citizenship for anyone who wishes to participate and we’ll hopefully have the student winners of the Poster, Poem and Essay contest and we’re hoping they’ll read their contributions,” Lamb-Richardson said. “Those kids write the most incredibly moving tributes to the people who made Canada, Canada so it’s incredibly valuable to have them there.”

At 1:30 p.m. everyone will be able to enjoy a piece of birthday cake and some ice cream compliments of the Rimbey Co-op, followed by the opening of the ethnic food booth feature treats and tastes for around the world, which will run from 1:30 to 3: 30 p.m.

“Our ethnic food booth is expanding this year. We’re going for the butter chicken or jerk chicken because we’ll obviously have to have something from the Caribbean. Each year, Melodie (Howard) of Especially For You Catering and I get together and we see what we can invent for exciting flavours.”

From 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., On The Mark Entertainment will hook up with the Rimbey Parentlink Centre to host some family games and prizes with plenty of music.

The day is sure to close with a bang with a huge fireworks display scheduled to begin at 11 p.m. at the ball diamonds just south of the community.

“This year the fireworks are even bigger than last year and last year was the biggest we’ve ever had,” Lamb-Richardson said. “If the fireworks happen to be rained out on July 1, then we’ll have them on July 2. As for the activities, we’ll still carry on with them, but we’ll house them in different structures at the park.”

The fireworks are compliments of a grant through Canadian Heritage.