The Town of Eckville will be proudly participating in the most patriotic of Canadian holidays this year, with many festivities taking place locally to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary.
“We’re hoping we’ll get a good turnout, but when it falls on a weekend, there tend to not be as many people, because they go camping,” said Eckville Mayor Helen Posti. “It just depends - it’s hard to tell. The last few years we’ve run fireworks and we’re going to do that again.”
Posti said the way Eckville celebrates Canada Day grows a little every year, and this year’s coming celebration will not be a break in that pattern. Those looking to attend should keep an open schedule that day, since festivities extend throughout the day, right up until the fireworks finale at dusk.
The afternoon will entail an opportunity to blend fitness and fun with a session of yoga, for people of all ages, in Millennium Park.
Later, at 5 p.m., DJ On the Mark will be providing some music with complimentary hot dogs, watermelon and Canadian birthday cake served by Town staff.
From 5-8 p.m. the Town will be offering fresh popcorn, a sand pile/money search, a bouncy castle, the Eckville Fire Department’s dunk tank and face painting.
Between 6:30 and 7 p.m., Lacombe County Councillor Dana Kreil will lead in the singing of O Canada. Following that, the Town will be holding its Reaffirmation Ceremony.
“We do something unique - we do a reaffirmation of citizenship ceremony,” said Posti “It’s unique, because I don’t know of any other communities that do it.”
The Reaffirmation Ceremony is a formal event in which participants simply repeat the Oath of Citizenship to express their patriotic commitment to Canada.
As the day winds down, the Eckville Recreational Board will offer a movie - Boss Baby. The movie will be followed at a fireworks display at dusk, at the Dark Horse Golf Course - all in attendance for both events are advised to bring their own seating.
Posti hopes to see many attend Eckville’s festivities, also saying the celebration is brought about by the teamwork of a number of local volunteers.
“Originally we started with Council cooking hot dogs and some fireworks, and we’ve expanded that with so many things, adding face painting and different activities,” said Posti. “It’s going to be a great deal - we start cooking around 5 p.m. It’s a real family-oriented event and we want everyone to come out. It’s free, too.”