True patriot love

Canadian pride on display at Marion Bridge Elementary.

The red and white colours of this country and all that comes with being part of it were on full display during Canada Day activities hosted by the students of Marion Bridge Elementary on Monday.

From poutine to pucks, to Anne of Green Gables and the Northern Lights, the 71 students did their very best to represent all aspects of their country during the day.

“In lieu of going on field trips outside of the school we decided to have one big day for the whole school,” said principal Ruth Clarke.

“We know that Canada Day is coming up. We wanted to acknowledge it and work as much culture into it as we could.”

Kate Munroe was more than happy to show off her love for her country during activities.

“I live in a wonderful county and it is really fun to celebrate with your friends and family,” said the Grade 3 student with freshly painted Canadian colours on her face.

Most students enjoyed the scavenger hunt portion of activities that asked them to find as many things associated with Canada Day as possible.

In many instances, a great deal of creativity was involved in the search.

“On the list there was a beaver and there is a teacher in our school called Ms. Beaver, so we decided to use her as our beaver on the list,” said Rachel Boone, a Grade 5 student.

The most colourful aspect of the day was on display for the entire community when the students marched with flags they made from their school to a cenotaph at the St. Columbus Presbyterian Church just down the road.

Other activities included a Canada Day mural that will be laminated and displayed at Munroe House during the Mira Gala and teddy bear picnic.

Students also had the chance to create Mi’kmaq dream catchers to acknowledge First Nations people were here long before Canada was formed 150 years ago while visitors from the Gaelic College set up a milling frolic and a square dance to pay tribute to the Scottish heritage of many of the school’s students.

An English and French rendition of “O Canada” was also part of the day.

“We tried to work all kinds of Canada into today,” said Clarke. “That was our goal today, that’s for sure.”

GREG MCNEIL/CAPE BRETON POST Drummer Marcus Garland, a member of the volunteer association with Fortress of Louisbourg, led students at Marion Bridge Elementary from their school to a nearby war memorial on Monday. Many of the students carried Canadian flags they created as part...