Canada Day
Celebrations in Westville will have a special bang to mark Canada 150
There are plenty of reasons for families to spend the long weekend in Pictou County this July 1 with a full range of activities happening in various towns including a special visit of the Tall Ships to Pictou and activities in both New Glasgow and Westville leading up to and on Canada Day.
Tom Steele, Westville parade chairperson, believes the actionpacked weekend will be nothing but a good thing for Westville as they host their traditional Canada activities with a little extra flare in honour of Canada’s 150th anniversary.
Westville started celebrating Canada’s birthday in 1907, which makes it among the longest celebrations in the country, if not the longest.
Steele has been involved with the parade for the last four decades. He remembers the first year the Westville Fire Department took over the organizing of the event from the Westville Rink Commission back in 1977.
Since the 1950s the fire department members would do traffic control and parking.
“When the rink commission decided to step back, all the members knew what had to be done, and we have been doing it ever since,” Steele said.
Steele looks at the event as more than just a Westville tradition and Homecoming but an opportunity for all area residents to come together and celebrate our heritage and have a good time.
The July 1 events start at 10 a.m. at the Cenotaph on Main Street. Members of the New Glasgow Army Cadets will conduct the official flag-raising along with MP Sean Fraser, MLA Tim Houston and Westville Mayor Roger MacKay.
Applications for the 11 a.m. street parade have been arriving in greater numbers than in previous years and entries will be accepted up to the start time, he said.
Well known Westville residents Lilly and Archie Conrad will be the honorary parade marshals and will be followed by a youth contingent displaying a giant Canada flag courtesy of Central Supplies.
The RCAF plan to Salute the 150th Celebration with a flyover during the Parade. This will be based on weather and operational duties. It is planned that either a C130 Hercules or CH149 Cormorant will make a lowlevel pass over the parade route as low as 500 feet.
With the midway in Victoria Park, stage entertainment in the afternoon will start at 1:30 with Kitchen Criminals, followed by the Canada Day Queen crowning at 6 p.m. Big Fish, from Halifax, will be on stage at 7:30 p.m.
The day finishes with one the area’s largest fireworks show.
Steele said they’ve got a few surprises for this year’s show that people won’t have seen in the past at the fireworks.
Other events
Leading into Canada Day there is a full slate of activities ranging from a seniors appreciation night, June 22, to a Kidsfest on Saturday, June 24.
George Norman, chairperson of the Westville Canada Day Kidsfest, is planning on hundreds of smiles in Acadia Park on Saturday.
“I have two of my own (kids) and having lots of fun activities is a must for this event,” he said.
The event is planned by the Westville Fire-Rescue with sponsorship from Benvie’s Taxi, Reims Windows and Doors, Big 8 Beverages and the Nova Scotia 150 Fund.
“Last year saw over 250 children in attendance, this year we’re planning for 500,” Norman said.
Besides the costume parade, family barbecue and bouncy houses, Forever Memories from Bible Hill are setting up a Petting Zoo.
EHS will have an ambulance
on site manned by EHS volunteers who will conduct a Teddy Bear Clinic, ready to offer a check-up and fix any booboos.
Members of the Westville Fire Department will hold a Junior Firefighter Competition during which the little ones will run some drills just like the “big” firefighters.
Children entering the Costume Parade will line up at the Fire Station at 11:45 a.m. and head to the park by noon.
In case of rain all events will be held in the Westville Rink. Watch the “Celebrate Canada Days in Westville” Facebook site for updates.