The Spirit of ’67

Being part of this parade had her floating on air

All of the big plans under way for Canada’s 150th birthday bash this year, call to mind Canada’s Centennial year in 1967. Times were very different back then. Dad’s job as assistant foreman with the public works department in our town of Ajax, Ont., paid less than $5 an hour. Mom worked at the Chrysler plant in town for much the same wage. They bought our house for a whopping $9,000 and a cup of coffee would set you back ten cents.

I was just 13 and Canada’s birthday was not on everyone’s lips, so our family was largely unaware of the whole thing. But Dad, who had recently been asked to become a charter member of the brand new Kiwanis Club in our little town, came home with some big news. Mom and I were to be on one of the floats in the town’s parade! Mom got out her sewing machine and immediately began planning for my dress. The local fabric shop had but one pattern in my size. When it was finished, I loved it and thought I looked like a pilgrim girl. Mom then began sewing her own gown.

The news from Dad was that we were to play a nursemaid and mother respectively to a large baby on the float. The “baby” was a very short Kiwanis Club member who carried a huge baby bottle. He also had a giant crib and appeared to be wearing nothing but a big diaper. He stole the show!

Although my brothers Don and Randy were not part of the parade, they, along with Dad, were certainly a very vocal cheering section. And, yes, our float took first prize in the comic division. Susan Hedlund, London, Ont.