With pockets of sunshine and a lot of rain, Prince George nevertheless came out to celebrate Canada’s 156th birthday at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park.
Truly a city tradition, it was also the 50th anniversary of the city celebrating Canada Day in the Park, as the event was first held back in 1973.
The park began to fill with people as the Prince George Community Band played at the Kiwanis Bowl in the morning, before the day official began with a welcoming from Lheidli T’enneh Elder Darlene MacIntosh.
“What a day to celebrate Canada Day and see all the people in their reds and ready to celebrate this beautiful day on Mother Earth,” said McIntosh.
“This is a day to celebrate diversity, coming together, and sharing knowledge and wisdom.”
Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dolleen Logan also offered a greeting and thanked all of the volunteers for making the event possible.
“Prince George is number one for volunteering. Look at all of them! This is amazing. This is the one community event where everyone comes out and it is going to be really fun this afternoon.”
A beautiful rendition of O’Canada was then sung by Aidyl Jago accompanied by the Prince George Community Band before dignitaries spoke to the crowd.
“This is Canada’s 156th birthday and I think we do have the best country in the world,” said MLA Mike Morris.
“There are issues all over the world we have it pretty good in Canada. We have our own issues to deal with from time to time but we can deal with them very well.”
Prince George Mayor Simon Yu remarked how special the day was because it was his first time celebrating Canada Day as mayor of the city.
“We share our culture together and come together as one family at Lheiildi T’enneh park. This is a beautiful event,” said Yu.
“As we celebrate Canada Day let’s also celebrate each others’ cultures, while we taste each others’ food cuisines, listen to each others’ music, and exchange each others’ artwork. We want the world to know that Prince George is diversified, and we value racial equality, diversity and social justice. Together as a people, Prince George, we are going to go places.”
City Coun. Kyle Sampson and the day’s MC read a statement on behalf of the Prince George Multicultural Society who started Canada Day in the Park and organized the event for many years.
“Half a century ago we hosted a 1973 Canada day for the first time in this park, 50 year later we are still going as strong as ever. Our society has been growing with Canada for the past 50 years and we have helped to make Prince George more inclusive and welcoming as a city and we hope to make the next 50 years even better,” said Sampson on behalf of the multicultural society’s president Patrick Pocha.
“We want to thank the city of Prince George as a help to our society to put on this show. It would not be able to happen without the city and their support.”
With on and off rain showers Canada Day continued with entertainment, kids’ games, food representing cultures from around the world, and rides on the Little Prince.
Entertainment throughout the day included the Prince George Community Band, Zahirah Dance Studio, Ivan Paquette, Khast’an Drummers, Bollywood Dream Dancers, Pow Wow Dancers, Old Time Fiddlers, Yalenka Ukranian Dancers and more.
