ELK POINT – Elk Point Canada Day Committee is deep in the planning stages for their double-barreled June 30 - July 1 weekend event, which this year will include participation in a nation-wide event of the National Chinese Canadian Congress, destined to set a new Guinness World Record for the most people drumming at one time.
The Congress currently holds the record, but is hoping to add to the current total, with drummers across the nation, from east coast to west, all celebrating Canada Day with drumming in unison at 12:00 noon, Alberta and at that same moment nationwide, all caught on camera and broadcast across the country. The Alberta session was previously held in Calgary, but thanks to connections Mayor Parrish Tung made with the organizers, it will come here this year.
The drumming ceremony will be held on the Iron Horse Trail staging area, with Indigenous drummers joining the large Chinese group and the public, equipped with handheld miniature drums distributed during the parade and onsite, all joining in for this special occasion.
The ceremony, which also includes a large group of Chinese singers who will sing O Canada, will follow the traditional July 1 pancake breakfast at the Elk Point Library and the Canada Day parade, the parade starting a half hour earlier this year to ensure it is completed in time that participants and parade watchers have ample time to gather for this far-reaching event.
Canada Day celebrations will then move up to the A. G. Ross Arena and the Canada Day stage, for the 1 p.m. flag raising ceremony and an afternoon of multicultural entertainment, from the all-time favourite County Express country band to First Nations and Métis singers and dancers and Ukrainian dancers who are already on the list, with more performers invited to contact committee chair Wanda Cochrane to be added to the program.
The Canada Day Mini Market in the arena will also get underway at 1 p.m., and out on the grounds, there will be everything from bounce castles, sumo suits, the dunk tank, the petting zoo, glitter tattoos, balloon creations and more to keep the whole family entertained, along with the return of the Junior Firefighters event for a second year.
Food trucks and the arena concession have also been confirmed.
Plans for a ball tournament, evening beerfest and fireworks display on June 30 are nearing completion, so stay tuned for updates on all the fun to come on Canada Day weekend!
