Mini tattoo on centre stage
Northside legions come together to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary
Volunteers were hard at work on Wednesday at the Emera Centre preparing for a mini tattoo that will feature more than a dozen groups and artists — including the world-renowned Men of the Deeps.
The event, officially called the Northside salute to the 150th anniversary of Canada and 100th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge,” is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Emera Centre in North Sydney.
The event is a huge undertaking that required the efforts of the Florence, Sydney Mines and North Sydney branches of the Royal Canadian Legion.
The show has something for everyone — from a Cape Breton Regional Police dog presentation and a fire department tug-of-war to musical acts like Lynda Maxwell and the Cape Breton Highlanders Pipes & Drums.
Vince Penney, a member of the committee that’s been meeting since January to plan the event, said it’s a complicated, fast-paced and precise event.
“Everything is time sensitive — as one (act) is leaving, one’s coming along. We only have a two-hour window and we don’t want the people to get restless.”
The show has plenty of local talent including the 562 Cabot
Air Cadets who have been sponsored by Penney’s legion, branch 19 in North Sydney, since 1951.
“They play a big part — their involvement is very important. They’re a part of the nucleus of the whole mini tattoo itself,” said Penney.
The brains behind the event is retired regimental Sgt.-Maj. John McNeil. As director of the show he was tasked with writing the script and stage directions among other things.
Penney describes McNeil as a world-class talent.
“John has experience working (on tattoos) right across Canada and Europe. He’s been working on large-scale tattoos for awhile — he has so much to offer.”
Besides Canada’s anniversary, Penney said the show also honours the importance of the 100th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge.
“People often say that when we fought at Vimy Ridge, that’s when we became a nation. We wanted to connect that to our salute to Canada.”
Other performances at the
show include the drill team from 824 Air Cadet Squadron, Northside area combined church choir, MacArthur’s Highland Dancers, a cadet relay race and Marty MacDougall’s taekwondo demonstration to name a few.
There will also be a special act of remembrance honouring current and past sacrifices made by men and women of the Armed Forces.
Admission is $10 per person at the door. Advanced tickets are available at the legion branches sponsoring the event.