By Adam Eisenbarth
The Canadian pride was glowing red at Pas-Ka-Poo Park for Canada Day.
Families enjoyed a variety of performances and activities throughout the day at the park, but the true meaning of the day was a reminder of just how privileged Canadians are.
“It’s been wonderful, the whole community has come out to enjoy each other’s cultures and it’s been a perfect day for every age group,” said organizer Judy Lamb-Richardson.
Celebrations involved a number of Chinese performances, including a Tae Kwon Do demonstration from Master Rim’s Tae Kwon Do in Red Deer.
“The Chinese entertainment that came was absolutely stunning. It was a joy to learn more about their culture.”
This was Lamb-Richardson’s last year organizing the event and in recent years she has focused on celebrating the diversity of the country by highlighting a different culture each year.
“Every culture is fantastic and rich and we need to know more about each other’s cultures.”
Seoungmin Rim, head master of Master Rim’s Tae Kwon Do Academy is an immigrant from South Korea. “I’ve been around to about 30 different countries and I think Canada is probably my preference as the best place to live and raise children,” Rim said after the academy’s performance.
“It’s a clean environment, clean water and air, and people are very nice and friendly.”
Canada is not just diverse in its people however. The landscapes throughout the country match the people.
“We have everything from sand dunes to icebergs and everything, it’s a great country,” says proud Canadian Audrey Munro of Rimbey. “I think it’s the most wonderful country in the world. I was born here, and I just love it. We’re so fortunate.”
Those who attended the day of fun received an important reminder from the Royal Canadian Legion as they held a parade at the park.
“(We wanted) to let the general public know that this is a very important day and people fought for this so we really need to enjoy it,” said Joyce Eggleston, president of the Legion Ladies Auxiliary.
“It’s the best country in the world. We have everything here. We have freedom.”
Rimbey’s Bill Nieuwenhuis, originally of Wisconsin, says Canada has a special welcoming feeling to it.
“When I go back to the States I find that they have a much harder edge to it. I think multiculturalism in a way softens the edges between group whereas the American way is ‘our way is the only way.’”
After the day of fun, families made their way to the ball diamonds where a free concert was performed by the Polyjesters.
It wasn’t just any free concert however. The event was a reward for winning a special task. Twenty-two towns were challenged to become the ‘Pinkest Little Town in the West’ and raise the most money for breast cancer.
“It was a daunting task for all the towns involved and one of them, Rimbey, came out far and away the winner. You people just rocked our socks, so we’re here to thank you,” said Jane Hurl, who organized the challenge.
A new sign for the town was unveiled, recognizing Rimbey as the ‘Pinkest Little Town in the West.’
Bentley celebrates
Of course Rimbey wasn’t the only community going loony for Canada on July 1.
The Bentley Firefighters Foundation held a celebration for the first time. In previous years the town had not planned big celebrations for the day.
President Carolyn McLaren was glad the foundation could change that and is already looking forward to next year. “We’ve already talked about it. If we had any success at all we were going to be bigger and better next year.”
That success was just what McLaren and other organizers saw.
“I am very happy. We were asked how many were going to come and we had no idea. The turnout was really phenomenal for the first time.”
Participants enjoyed a performance from magician Kyle Key and the kids were eager to hop into the bouncy castles. Cake was served as well and a dance wrapped up the evening.