Salmon, maple syrup and moccasins are only a small taste of Canadian culture, but if there was ever a reason to feel patriotic, it’s Canada’s birthday.
The Canada Day celebration will be marked on Sunday by the annual event hosted by the Trail Kiwanis Club at Beaver Creek Park.
“Everything is going well,” said Kiwanis club president Wayne Hodgson. “We’re just hoping that Mother Nature is going to be on our side so it can be sunny and dry (and) everything can go (well).”
This year’s 145th national birthday party begins with a pancake and sausage breakfast between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Trail Parks and Recreation will be doing free face painting, children’s games and a scavenger hunt.
The Lower Columbia All First Nation’s activities include traditional storytelling, bannock and cultural displays. North of 60 will also perform at 10 a.m. At the same time, there will be a craft fair and community group displays until 3 p.m.
“Last year was the first year we had (aboriginal activities),” said Hodgson. “And it was a big draw. There’s going to be a story teller, a dancer and they will probably be selling dreamcatchers and beadwork. We’re hoping to have some other vendors too.”
There will also be a hamburger and hotdog lunch available between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Trail Mayor Dieter Bogs will address the community around 11:45 a.m., before the everyone sings “O Canada” and will conclude with a cake cutting.
“The cake is usually gone in a short time,” said Hodgson.
Capping off the day will be fireworks at Gyro Park. Although the usual launching pad, the park’s boat launch, is under several feet of water, the show will go on with the fireworks set off in a spot nearby.
The first flicker of fireworks will come after sunset.
Water levels were also a concern for organizers out at Beaver Creek.
On Wednesday, Hodgson said the high water had reached the volleyball court but ensured that it wouldn’t dampen the festivities.
“I checked the creek and it’s roaring like crazy so we just have to warn everybody to keep tabs on their kids because if they got caught in that current that’s roaring, they’ll find them some place in Northport,” said Hodgson. “We’re going to put up the caution ribbon and everything like that, but if they want to go in bad enough—they will.”
The wet conditions have forced already forced Castlegar to cancel its planned festivities, which included an outdoor movie.
Meanwhile, those wishing to take part in the local party at Beaver Creek can catch a ride with the local transit.
A free wheelchair accessible bus service to and from the park will depart from Pine and Farewell streets in downtown Trail at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. and it will drop people off at 7th and McBride (Shavers Bench), Highway Drive (City Works Yard) and Old Waneta Road (in front of Maglio’s).