Uko Akpanuko
Daily Herald
The Prince Albert Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 2 is busy putting the finishing touches on its Canada Day celebration plans.
The activities start at 11 a.m. on July 1 at Kinsmen Park, with food booths, live music, and kids entertainment available. The event runs until 5 p.m.
“It’s has always been a big important thing for us at the Legion because of the way it was brought up to the Legion to go from Dominion Day to Canada Day celebration at the park,” said Rick Hodgson, the Canada Day Committee Chair. “The veterans for years have held it on July 1, and kept it going with their food booths, apple pies, entertainment and all the stuff for the kids.
“It’s the day that they always put together for everyone to come and enjoy and look after stuff and keep prices down so people can enjoy and have good place to go and celebrate the day.”
Hodgson said they’re bringing back a lot of experiences that were popular at past Canada Day celebrations. The list includes bingo, and a ball tournament, although Hodgson said it’s been difficult to find teams due to the long weekend.
Hodgson said the Canada Day celebrations have always been popular in Prince Albert, and he expects that to continue.
“I think the people of PA like a place just to go to right at home for a day of entertainment in the park and sit down and relax and watch things and take their kids,” he said. “There’s things for the kids to do, and entertainment for the adults to watch. There’s lots going on all day.”
Hodgson said Canada is very important to Legion members. He said veterans who went overseas to fight for Canada returned home and kept Canada Day celebrations going.
Hodgson’s father was a veteran, and he had uncles who enlisted and died overseas. He said Canada Day is an important part of keeping their memory alive.
“It’s important to me to keep going what the veterans started and for the City of Prince Albert to have a good day at the park full of entertainment for people to come to,” he said.
There will also be the traditional Canada Day Cash draw. Tickets are $5 each with limited tickets available for sale. The draw date is July 1 at 4:30 p.m. at the Kinsmen Park.
The Prince Albert Multicultural Council will continue the Canada Day celebrations after the Legion wraps up at 5 p.m. Please see Saturday’s Daily Herald for more on their plans.
–with files from Jason Kerr/Daily Herald
