The Town of Cochrane and Cochrane & Area Event Society have big plans for Canada Day this year.
Residents can head down to the Royal Canadian Legion at 9 a.m. on July 1 for a pancake breakfast to start the day off right. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for youth age six to 14, and free for youth under six.
Then join Mayor Ivan Brooker and the rest of town council in raising the Canadian flag at the legion at 11:00 a.m. The national anthem will be sung and those in attendance are encouraged to wear red and white colours.
After the flag raising, it wouldn’t be a birthday party without cake and entertainment.
The celebrations will continue at Mitford Park with gates opening at 12:30 p.m. For the first time in 17 years, the celebration will be admission-free as the event has been included in the town’s 2016 budget.
HOJA will be performing on the ATCO Gas Children’s Stage at 1:00 p.m. The event will feature pony rides, a petting zoo, food trucks, fly-fishing demos, wall climbing, balloon twister and more.
Also, see approximately 50 people participate in a live new Canadian Citizenship Ceremony at 3:00 p.m. The ceremony will be officiated by the Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada Committee and will include special dignitary invitations and guests.
Following the ceremony, take in performances by Cochrane Music Society’s Choral Waves Choir and Riverside Jazz Band.
The Town of Cochrane will be unveiling its segment of the Canada 150 Mosaic. Cochrane is one of many communities across Canada that participated to create a national mosaic for Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017.
Later in the evening, enjoy performances by Mocking Shadows, The Rodeo Riders and Brock Smith on the Paul Daniels stage.
The event will wrap up at 9:00 p.m. but residents are encouraged to end the evening off with viewing the celebratory fireworks from their homes at dusk. Pending fire ban regulations, the fireworks will be ignited at the Mitford Park ball diamonds.
Shuttle service will be offered every half hour from 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in select communities. Visit cochrane.ca for more details about shuttles.
Volunteers are still needed for the event. Call the Town of Cochrane’s Recreation, Culture, & Arts Department for details about volunteering at 403-851-2534.
