Celebrate Canada day in Arnprior and McNab/Braeside

Posted Jun 23, 2011 By Theresa Fritz

EMC Events - Residents of the Town of Arnprior and the Township of McNab/Braeside will have plenty of ways to celebrate Canada's 144th birthday.

Both communities have a full slate of July 1 activities and they are designed for young and old alike, rain or shine.

Arnprior's Canada Day festivities are being coordinated by the Canada Day Committee, under the direction of poll and program supervisor Jay Koch.

"The focus of the day is the same as it's been in the past...family entertainment and celebration of Canada's birthday, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display at dusk," Koch told the EMC.

The traditional kick-off to July 1 events will be the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast, taking place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Masonic Hall on James Street. The Lions Club will also be hosting a barbecue in Robert Simpson Park from noon to 4 p.m.

The 32nd annual Arnprior Canada Day Car Show will be held in picturesque Hydro Park, beside the Quality Inn. Show participants can register from 8-11 a.m. The registration fee is $5. There will be Dash Plaques for the first 100 registrants and awards for the top 30 vehicles. Contact East Side Mario's for details at www.arnpriorcanadadaycarshow.com.

Robert Simpson Park will be hub for the majority of Arnprior's Canada Day festivities.

Things get rolling with the annual Arnprior Optimist Club Children's Canada Day Bicycle Parade. Children are encouraged to decorate their bikes, wagons, tricycles, roller blades, even a unicycle in a Canadian theme! Show your Canadian spirit. Prizes will be awarded for best decorations.

Participants are asked to assemble at 10:30 a.m. in the parking lot behind the United Church. Prizes will be awarded before the parade leaves for Robert Simpson Park at 11:30 a.m.

There will be plenty of July 1 entertainment in Robert Simpson Park, starting at noon and continuing throughout the day.

At noon, the Legion Colour Party will lead the way into the park where Mayor David Reid will officially kick off the celebrations by welcoming everyone. The Canada Day Cake, generously donated by the Arnprior Legion, will then be served up. 'O Canada' will be sung this year by Meaghan Shannon.

Some of the scheduled music and entertainment this year includes a special performance by 'The Ottawa Valley Troubadour' Lyle Dillabough at 12:30 p.m., Meaghan Shannon, Jamie Bentz, Vicki Brittle, Sarah Kidney, Cassidy Whitelock, Jeanika Benoit and local bands Stealing Summer, She's Insane, Drama in the Collective, Painsteak, Hrkach and Sons. Entertainment assistance is being provided by the Main Street School of Music.

Wanna wear your Canadian pride for all to see? Take in the Prior Players' face painting in the park. There will also be children's games and fun, co-ordinated by the volunteers of Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church as well as snow cones and cotton candy provided by Camp Wanago. This is a fundraiser for the fireworks.

The Arnprior Rotary Club Mad Duck Race will be held on the Madawaska River starting from the Madawaska bridge at 2 p.m. First duck wins $1,000 and the second wins $500. The price of each duck is $5 and the first duck across the line wins $1,000. Contact Mike at 613-623-4331 to purchase a duck.

The Arnprior & District Museum will be open on Canada Day and there will be lots of activities there all day, including period costumes, a blacksmith, woodsman, soap-maker and more.

The Arnprior & McNab/Braeside Archives will have a display in front of the Arnprior Public Library featuring family histories, maps and archival photos. Come and explore your past.

The nation's birthday party will come to a sizzling end with music at East Side Mario's and the highlight of the day will be the giant fireworks display by the bridge at approximately 9:45 p.m.

Fireworks are set off by members of the Arnprior Fire Department and Arnprior Parks and Recreation. In the event of rain, the fireworks show will take place July 2.

MCNAB/BRAESIDE EVENTS

In the neighbouring Township of McNab/Braeside, a number of events have been organized before and for Canada Day.

From June 23-26, one can take in McNab Days, which will feature the Calling of the Clans Ceilidh, While Lake WI Euchre, Braeside-to-Braeside Flotilla, Burnstown WI Heritage Day, Scottish Festival and the McNab Healthy Living/Sunday Stretch.

The community will once again host McNab/Braeside's July 1 festivities. Activities will include a poker walk starting at 9:30 a.m. at Robbin's Confectionery and conclude at the Braeside beach at 10:15 a.m. At that time, a new sign will be unveiled for Braeside beach. The sign has been sponsored by Ontario Power Generation.

The float and bike decoration judging will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the fire hall, with the Canada Day parade following at 11 a.m. The parade will travel the Centre Street/River Road Circuit and a barbecue, cake and family games starting at noon at the R.A. Centre on Sarah Street.