BARRHEAD- Barrhead area residents will be able to mark Canada's 154th anniversary of Confederation with a week-long celebration of activities hosted by parks and recreation staff.
Town of Barrhead chief administrative officer Edward LeBlanc noted that the pandemic caused recreation staff to change up the town's usual Canada Day festivities.
Although the province will lift the majority of public health restrictions starting July 1, he said they could not use the Agrena because a parent group was preparing the ice rink, walking track and foyer for a July 9 Barrhead Composite High School 2021 graduation celebration.
For the last two or three years, pre-COVID-19, the parks and recreation department hosted a Canada Day family carnival in the Agrena.
Because the inside of the Agrena isn't available, the rec department decided to host a series of smaller activities leading up to Canada Day.
On Monday, June 28, the recreation staff handed out free popsicles form 3 to 4 p.m. at the splash park. On June 29, the Agrena concession will be giving out free hotdogs on a walk-up basis between noon and 1 p.m.
On June 30, recreation staff, from 1 to 2 p.m., will be handing out free goodie bags in front of the Barrhead Regional Aquatics Centre. At the same time, staff will be sponsoring a Canada Day themed, sidewalk chalk drawing contest, again in front of the swimming pool.
On Canada Day, the aquatics centre will mark its official re-opening with a free swim from noon to 8 p.m. The Town of Barrhead's week-long Canada Day celebration will end at 11 p.m. with a fireworks display organized by Barrhead Regional Fire Services.
"We are hoping the new time will be the sweet spot," LeBlanc said, noting in previous years the town received complaints about the time of the fireworks show.
For several years, the town hosted its Canada Day fireworks show between 9:15 and 10 p.m. as not to disrupt people's sleep patterns, who might have to work the next day.
"But it is really too light out at that time to have a good fireworks display, so we are hoping 11 p.m. will be the sweet spot where the fireworks will be visible and still not be too late for those who need to go to bed early," LeBlanc said.
Neerlandia
The Neerlandia Sports Committee will also be hosting a Canada Day celebration in the hamlet. Concessions will be open starting at 10 a.m., while the main festivities begin at 1 p.m. with the singing of O'Canada, a bouncy house and water cart, various farm equipment races and a tractor pull.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
