Perfect Weather Helps Barrhaven Canada Day Draw Largest Crowd Ever
Blue skies and perfect temperatures helped draw the largest crowd in the history of Barrhaven’s Canada Day celebrations July 1.
The celebrations wrapped up a 10-day Canada Day celebration that introduced a multi-cultural day on the main stage Saturday as well as a country music day Sunday.
Darrel Bartraw and Dawn Lilly of the Barrhaven Canada Day organizing committee thanked their fellow board members and praised the several volunteers who made the event a success.
Joining Bartraw and Lilly on the main stage for the opening ceremonies were Nepean MP Chandra Arya, Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod, Barrhaven Councillors Wilson Lo and David Hill, and Mattamy Homes vice-president Kevin Murray.
Bartraw introduced Retired Warrant Chief Warrant Officer David Cole, a 39-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Officers and a Life Member of the Barrhaven Legion. Cole introduced the colour party and the parade of flags, an annual tradition at the Barrhaven Canada Day opening ceremonies done with the help of the Barrhaven Lions Club and the Barrhaven Legion. Each province’s flag was introduced and carried to the front of the stage n order of when the provinces joined confederation.
“Canadians come from 157 different countries in the world,” said MP Chandra Arya. “We enjoy the freedom we take for granted. We have to remember this freedom is given to us by the men and women in the armed forces in the past and in the present.”
MPP Lisa MacLeod also thanked the men and women in the armed forces. She also thanked Lilly and Bartraw for their work in keeping Barrhaven’s Canada Day alive and creating a great event.
“If you could see what we see up here you see a very diverse community,” said MacLeod from the stage, facing the crowd. “Canada has 450 ethnicities, and 450 different languages. Barrhaven is a cosmopolitan community, but it’s also a real reflection of what the rest of Canada looks like.”
While Barrhaven has been celebrating Canada Day for 42 years, this year’s event was in jeopardy due to funding grant reductions from all three levels of government. A GoFundMe campaign was started with a goal of $5,000, but only raised $1,500. Bartraw thanked the companies and organizations and the government that stepped up to sponsor the event to ensure it would take place. In particular, Bartraw thanked Mattamy Homes for their commitment to Barrhaven’s Canada Day for the past 20 years.
Featured Image – Members of the Barrhaven Legion, Lions Club and Cadets took part in the annual parade of flags during the Barrhaven Canada Day opening ceremonies.
