The largest crowds seen in a number of years turned out for the annual Canada Day Parade and the subsequent Birthday Party in Queen Elizabeth Park on Friday, July 1. I stopped counting the downtown crowd at 1,104 along MacKenzie Avenue and Grizzly Plaza, and that did not include the throngs on First Street West. Please click on this image to see a larger version. David F. Rooney photo
By David F. Rooney
The largest crowds seen in a number of years turned out for the annual Canada Day Parade and the subsequent Birthday Party in Queen Elizabeth Park on Friday, July 1.
I stopped counting the downtown crowd at 1,104 along MacKenzie Avenue and Grizzly Plaza, and that did not include the throngs on First Street West. For once, it was nothot enough to fry an egg. The overcast sky and a light breeze blessed us with a temperature that was only in the high 20s. Canada Day usually features cloudless or nearly cloudless skies and temperatures in the 30s.
Theme of this year’s parade was accomplshments, according to organizer Megan MacIsaac, and the award for the Best Parade Float went to the Rod & Gun Club. There were scores of young children downtown for the parade and all doubtless enjoyed the candy handed out by the adults in the parade. But that wasn’t clearly not the main motivator. Most of them the kids had come to Grizzly Plaza before the parade to decorate their bikes, which they proudly showed off by riding en masse at the end of the parade.
Then, of course, there was the annual Birthday Party at Queen Elizabeth Park. As with the parade there was a very large number of people in the park, eager to chow down on burgers, pizza and popcorn, listen to music and generally enjoy the day.
Here is a selection from the more than 300 photos I shot during the day. I hope you enjoy them:
Parades in Revelstoke are rather traditional. The Mounties are almost always the first contingent marching in the parade. David F. Rooney photoThis is a ‘float’ for Peter Diamond, the Therapy Rabbit. David F. Rooney photoThese are some of the people who are staging a Peace Run. They’ve been running along highways in the region and just happened to be here on Canada Day. David F. Rooney photoCitizen of the Year Roma Threatful smiles to the crowd of friends and neighbours who cheered her on in Hector Scarcelli’s antique car. David F. Rooney photoThe friendly folks at Peoples’ Drug Mart march in the parade. David F. Rooney photoEd and Moira Jaateenmaki drove the ATV Society’s float on Friday. David F. Rooney photoThese people represented the SkyTrek adventure park located at Enchanted Forest on Highway 1. David F. Rooney photoIf you were kid at the front of the crowd you just knew you were going to score a big-time amount of candy during the parade. David F. Rooney photoAnd here comes the clever Rod & Gun float, which was judged to be the best in the 2016 parade. David F. Rooney photoThe club ‘s parade was quite entertaining and the best part of it was on the float being towed by this truck. David F. Rooney photoGeorge Buhler has a quick word with some of the parade observers. David F. Rooney photoThe back of the float featured a campfire and… David F. Rooney photo… a fish tale in the making with the irrepressible Clancy Boettger. David F. Rooney photoThe Safe Spaces Society and the Multicultural Society had very exuberant participants marching in the parade. David F. Rooney photoGiven the xenophobia and bigotry afflicting some of our trading partners and allies, it’s re-assuring to see that here at home, at least, tolerance, acceptance and good will are still the rule of the day. David F. Rooney photoThe flags carried by Multicultural Society members represent nationalities that are represented in our city. David F. Rooney photoGarry and Jackie Pendergast, who became Canadian citizens six or seven years ago, really get into the spirit of Canada Day, David F. Rooney photoPam Sanghera waves to a friend in the crowd. David F. Rooney photoHere comes the RONA truck. David F. Rooney photoThese young Aquaducks look pleased to be in the parade. David F. Rooney photoAnd here’s what they looked like from the rear. David F. Rooney photoRob Tippe checks his rear-view mirror to make sure everyone behind him is still in their proper place. David F. Rooney photoSave On Foods participated, too. David F. Rooney photoHere come the Ministry of Forests fire crew, obviously prepared to help over-heated parade-watchers cool off. David F. Rooney photoSpecial Olympics anyone? David F. Rooney photoIt’s not enough to have just one Randy Driediger in our town. EZ Rock’s Shaun Aquiline insists we must have two — even though the extra one is a tad two-dimensional. David F. Rooney photoThe Shriners were out in force. David F. Rooney photoParks Canada brought their beaverish mascot out to play. David F. Rooney photoThe appearance of the Fire Rescue Service’s big machines is always a sign that the end is nigh. David F. Rooney photoThe BC Ambulance Service was the penultimate agency participating in the parade. This paramedic cautions the excited youngsters to beware getting too close to the ambulance. David F. Rooney photoAnd with the end of the parade everyone headed up MacKenzie for the Birthday Party in Queen Elizabeth Park. David F. Rooney photoCanada Day organizer Megan MacIsaac presents George Buhler of the Rod & Gun Club with the plaque for Best Float in the parade. David F. Rooney photoThis very young child won one of the awards for best decorated bike as RCMP Staff Sgt. Kurt Granbinsky and Citizen of the Year Roma Threatful look on. David F. Rooney photoThis little girl also won an award. David F. Rooney photoMayor Mark McKee addresses the crowd at the Birthday Party at Queen Elizabeth Park. Revelstoke has accomplished a lot in recent years and looks set to achieve even more in the years ahead. David F. Rooney photoBC Liberal candidate Doug Clovechok relays best wishes to Revelstoke from BC premier Christy Clark. David F. Rooney photoRCMP Staff Sgt. Kurt Grabinski said our local Mounties are proud of the kind of community that Revelstoke is proving itself to be. David F. Rooney photoSharlene Foisy leads the crowd in singing O Canada as a detail of Mounties raise the flag. David F. Rooney photoLaura Stovel and Barbara Mayes enjoyed handing out fresh and — oh-so-tasty — bannock. David F. Rooney photoAfter the formalities it’s time to tuck into the serious part of the Birthday Party — enjoying a slice of the amazing cake. David F. Rooney photoLive music helped make the party a very mellow affair. Please click on the image to see a larger version. David F. Rooney photoThe dunk tank was great fun for a lot of children. David F. Rooney photoFood and beverage vendors did extremely well, as you can see by all the activity at the Team Gloria concession. Please click on he image to see a large version. David F. Rooney photoThe Village Idiot concession had a nice little line, too. David F. Rooney photoBut nothing beat the lineup for free popcorn from the Credit Union’s machine. Please click on the image to see a large version. Maybe you’ll see a friend! David F. Rooney photoBocce: a very Revelstoke-specific tradition. David F. Rooney photoThe Potato Sack Race was popular. David F. Rooney photoHere’s one reason why the children’s events were so popular: a table full of swag. David F. Rooney photoJoanne Stacey and her band helped Revelstokians and visitors continue celebrating Canada Day with their appearance at Grizzly Plaza as part of the Arts Council’s Summer Streetfest 2016 schedule or performers. Please click on the image to see a larger version. David F. Rooney photo
Did you miss the Canada Day parade? If you did, you can watch it now by activating the YouTube player below:
Here’s a video of singer/songwriter Joanne Stacey’s performance during the Arts Council’s Summer Street Fest at Grizzly Plaza during the Canada Day evening:
