Memories of Canada Day Celebrations

Memories of Canada Day Celebrations

Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent

My favorite part of Vegreville’s Canada Day celebration is the way people just seem so happy when they get together and reflect on all the advantages of living in Canada.

When I asked citizens their favorite part of the local Canada Day celebrations and what their favorite memories of Canada Day’s celebrations were, I received many different answers.

Phyllis Tarapacki’s said her favorite part of Canada Day’s celebrations is people getting together and being happy with each other’s company. “That is what Canada is about, is friendliness. But being Canadian doesn’t only involved being friendly; there are so many things that are involved in our lives. For example in order to keep Canada the peaceful country it is to live in, we need the military so we can have a safe haven to come home to. Then we also need to support one another,” Phyllis said.

Phyllis Tarapacki shared her memories of Canada Day events. (Rosanne Fortier/photo) ebration with the Multicultural Melodiants who were performing at Homestead Senior Citizen’s Lodge in Vegreville. I made a large Canada Day cake for this event. Then I invited a bagpipe piper from Mannville to perform at the celebration where he led the parade within the lodge. There were many dignitaries and representatives from the Royal Purple Ladies who attended and gave speeches or said jokes. If they didn’t say something, they did something for the event. The residents also presented some speeches or said some jokes too. Then I remember the residents all sitting in front while I led them in singing, O’Canada . At that same time, I had Peter Skoreyko sing O’Canada with us because he is such a good singer. The RCMP from the Vegreville detachment were also at the event where they worn their red coats and uniforms. As well, we sang, ‘God Save the Queen’ at the end.

Phyllis closed by saying most of all she loves Canada and we all need to do our part to save the world environmentally and socially.

Anne Bilyk, another resident of Vegreville said she loves to attend the Canada Day’s Pancake Breakfast and celebration at the social centre, as well as, the event at the Elks/Kinsmen Park. “My favorite part is getting together with friends and listening to the music, listening to the speeches and eating the breakfast. It is the fellowship that I really enjoy. At the park, I like the Royal Canadian Air Forces fly-by. Then I remember fondly the year 2017 when the Canada 150 celebrations were held and we were dressed in red and worn Canada Day flags and some music was playing and we were dancing on the grounds of the Pysanka Park,” Anne explained.

Antoinette Fortier also echoed this sentiment as she especially remembers the Canada 150 celebration in Vegreville as she loved the way there were people from all cultures at this event. “The celebration was colourful and there was a lot of dancing and food from different cultures. I also remember the way we made crocheted maple leaves for the trees at the park, for the front of the library, and for different places in Vegreville.”