Squamish's celebration of Canada's 146th birthday promises to be a high-spirited, red, white and green affair - with the promise of a Canada Day March (not parade) that's bigger and more festive than its predecessors.
"I think we've probably doubled how big it [the march] is going to be this year," said Cindy Cardiff, who organizes the community's Canada Day celebrations. "It's going to be exciting. There are lots of props and costumes that are being prepared for it.
"We're encouraging people to think outside the box of what a Canada Day parade can be. In the last few years it's been fairly small. I think we've probably doubled how big it's going to be this year, and that's just with the people who have signed up so far."
As in the past, the march will be "people-powered," i.e. non-motorized. Led by the Royal Canadian Legion Diamond Head Branch #277 and the Black Tusk Caledonia Pipe and Drum Corps, it gets underway at 10:45 a.m., running from the Rotary Clock to the Cenotaph. Other confirmed participants so far include the 4th Squamish Scouts, the 835 Griffin Squamish Air Cadets, the Sea to Sky Sirens roller derby team, Diamond Head Outfitters, Canine Valley and On the Farm Country Market, she said.
The parade will wrap up with a ceremony, sponsored by the Squamish Chamber of Commerce, that includes the raising of the flag, the singing of O Canada led by singer Emma Wong and speeches.
The Canada Day Market and Food Fair, sponsored by Newport Market, also promises to be better than ever, with local artisans, food vendors, non-profit clubs and groups all showing off their wares from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"I have invited all the downtown businesses to step out of their doors and be part of a two-block sidewalk sale," Cardiff said. "So they will be the market next to Pavilion Park, and if they join in it should just flow together into a big sidewalk sale. I've been going door to door trying to encourage that."
Other activities include a multicultural activity centre sponsored by Hot Spot Welcome Centre, face painting by the Hacketts, a classic car show, a Loggers Sports show, en plein air painting with Toby Jaxon and Zoe Evamy and a custom photo booth presented by Double Shutter Images and Endure Upcycled Designs.
The Canada Day Stage at the O'Siyam Pavilion - with a huge assist from sound tech Brian Marchant, Cardiff said - will feature sets by Pedalman Dupuis (10 to 11 a.m.), Carolyn Grass and Friends (11:30 to 12:45 p.m., the Sea to Sky Fiddlers (1 to 2 p.m.), Tantalus Pass (2:15 to 3:15 p.m.), Jocelyn Pettit Band (3:30 to 4:45 p.m.), Rita Kyle and Rick Morgan (5 to 6:15 p.m.), Shone, Ken and Kera (6:30 to 7:45 p.m.) and The Blinking Fish (8 to 9:30 p.m.).
As well, a beer garden presented by Howe Sound Brewing will be set up from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Grand Finale will be a fire show featuring fire spinning with Hevy Huups from 9:45 to 10:15 p.m. and fireworks by Kris Keyes over the Mamquam Blind Channel at 10:15 p.m.
Key supporters of the event include the District of Squamish and the Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association. Cardiff said it's really the community that makes the event special.
"It takes six months to organize this. It's a ton of work, actually. I'm a committee of one, but my thought to this is it's a community celebration and a big part of the job is to make sure key groups are part of the celebration of being Canadian," she said.
"I just oversee it all. Everybody else is what makes this happen. It's a long day for a lot of people, but everyone has a blast. That's what it's all about."
