Plans for a fun-filled Canada Day in St. Paul are underway, and a long list of activities will be taking place on June 30 and July 1 at the Rec. Centre grounds.
The fun will begin the evening of June 30, as bouncy houses, snow cones and entertainment by renowned local fiddler Calvin Vollrath will set the stage for what is expected to be a longer and more impressive fireworks display.
The Town of St. Paul and Champions for Change are organizing the June 30 and July 1 events. On June 30, Vollrath will hit the stage from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at the Rec. Centre, and fireworks are set to take place at about 11 p.m. at the nearby ball diamonds.
According to Town of St. Paul Recreation Director Gary Ward, the town chooses to do the fireworks the day before Canada Day to accommodate the volunteer firefighters who are a major part of the event.
“All our firefighters are volunteers and they all have jobs,” he says, adding, although the fireworks wrap up for spectators well before midnight, the clean-up by firefighters isn’t usually done until about 2:30 a.m., making for a late night for volunteers.
Then, firefighters who want to enjoy the rest of the Canada Day celebrations on July 1 are free to do so. This year, some extra funds have been put into the fireworks show, which will be about five to seven minutes longer than usual, says Ward.
On July 1, celebrations will begin before lunch and will include a list of things to do. Opening ceremonies will take place at 11 a.m., with traditional aboriginal games happening at 11:30 a.m., a barbecue lunch fundraiser hosted by the BMX Skatepark initiative will happen throughout the day, and more entertainment will also take place on Wednesday.
“The focus is on families,” says Fox, adding the celebrations will offer a great opportunity for people to spend time with their families. “It’s not expensive. It’s just about the community celebrating together.”
A bike parade is also set to take place at 1:30 p.m., with prizes awarded to all those who participate, says Penny Fox, chair with Champions for Change. Participants are asked to decorate their bicycles and dress themselves up however they want, then the parade will go on a loop around the Rec. Centre grounds, toward the museum and by the Ag Corral.
“It’s completely for fun,” says Fox, who adds she is excited to include the aboriginal games in the day’s events. Representatives from the Mannawanis Centre will be on hand to teach people how to play.
Other events taking place throughout the day also include bouncy houses, popcorn, a balloon artist, face painting, a farmers market, skateboarding demo put on by the BMX skatepark fundraising initiative, and a book signing by Shashi Kalia, an author who immigrated with her family to northern Alberta (Cold Lake) from India. Entertainment on July 1 will also include musician Shane Larmand and also the Jete Dance Studio.
“Hopefully everybody enjoys a great Canada Day,” says Ward.
Leading up to Canada Day celebrations in St. Paul will be the annual On the Way to Canada Day event at the Alliance Church, just a few minutes west of St. Paul on Highway 29.
The celebrations will take place on June 28 from 4 to 8 p.m. and will include food, treats, games, wagon rides, and an overall family-oriented afternoon filled with activities.
Face painting, glitter tattoo, wagon rides, a puppet show, carnival games, bouncy houses, music, and even a petting zoo will be on hand to keep children and adults busy. The event is offered to the community free of charge, according to one of the organizers, Cheylynn Ambler.
“Come on out for a fun, family friendly event celebrating Canada Day,” says Ambler.
