BONNYVILLE – Canada Day won’t go by this year unnoticed by the Town of Bonnyville.
The municipality, in partnership with the Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce, wanted to ensure residents had a way of celebrating the nation after last year’s festivities were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We knew we wanted to do something, regardless of what was going on with COVID-19. We started right away getting ideas together and all the activities planned were based on if restrictions were still in place,” Coun. Elisa Brosseau, chair of the Canada Day committee, told Lakeland This Week.
She added, “After the year that we’ve had, we want to uplift people. We want to do something as a community, so it kind of unites us in a way that we’re celebrating Canada Day, but we’re doing it in our own unique way. I think it’s just important to celebrate to really uplift citizens in the community.”
The events kick off on July 1 at noon with a digital scavenger hunt. It's being done through an app called Goosechase, which will see groups running around town completing challenges and activities until 4 p.m. Those interested are asked to register before June 30.
With restrictions in mind, Brosseau said there will also be a Canada Day photo contest where residents can post how they’re celebrating online using #BonnyvilleCanadaDay2021.
“We were thinking ‘okay, if restrictions are in place, you can only have up to 10 people (together). How are we celebrating Canada Day? Because everybody is going to be doing it differently, whether it’s a backyard party, out on the boat on Moose Lake, or a bike ride.’ We want people to share what they’re doing for Canada Day,” detailed Brosseau. “We’re doing a Facebook contest where you take a photo of how you’re celebrating and then we’ll choose the top three.”
Both the scavenger hunt and photo contest have substantial prizes, Brosseau stated, which aim to put funds back into Bonnyville.
When the sun starts to set, families can take advantage of Movie Night at the Rodeo Grounds. Raya the Dragon will start at 6 p.m. and Men in Black: International will follow at 9 p.m.
Leading up to Canada Day, businesses had the chance to get festive. The chamber registered storefronts along main street to have their windows painted ahead of the big day.
Chamber Executive Director Serina Parsons said all of the events planned were a chance to give everyone a sense of normalcy.
“It brings our community closer together, it creates a sense of unity, and we need that now more than ever,” she noted.
A total of 16 businesses signed up to have their windows painted.
At the time of Lakeland This Week’s deadline, provincial health regulations didn’t allow for a parade and the committee wasn’t moving ahead with one. However, Brosseau said that may change.
“If we opened up and we were able to have a parade and we could throw one together last minute, we might do that. But we will see,” she stressed.
