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Kingsville celebrates Canada Day with songs, sweets, suds and smiles
By Paul Forman
It was an extravaganza of fun for kids in Kingsville on Canada’s 156th birthday as the arena and its surroundings offered numerous activities for younger ones.
The day opened with greetings from Mayor Dennis Rogers followed by Music Moves Kids singing the national anthem.
Rogers commented, “Looking around and seeing smiling faces, both young and old, they are here to celebrate our country. It’s a day for celebration, but also a day for reflection and reconciliation, we need to support that as well.”
Face painting, free cupcakes, a foam party, train rides by the Kingsville Express, frisbee golf, an aerialist, a magic show and live music were among the many ways that kids could have a ball at Kingsville’s celebration.
For those with a little more wear on the tires, vendors filled the arena inside, while Some Guys Who Like To Sing entertained, Communities In Bloom handed out free native plants, the Lions Club served up barbecue fare and the Rotary Club of Kingsville gathered infant donations for KEYS EarlyOn.
A special feature this year was the Community Maple Leaf Project created by Beth Buhler of Creative Touch Studios. The large, red maple leaf allowed the public to directly be a part of an artistic piece that will eventually find a home at the Carnegie Arts and Visitors Centre and will re-emerge to be added to at the next Canada Day celebration in town.
Buhler explained, “The leaf was designed on a computer and was made using a laser cutter, piece by piece. It’s a really unique way to celebrate Canada Day with the Arts Society of Kingsville.”
The day culminated with a dazzling display of fireworks in the lower bowl of Lakeside Park.
