Canada Day is fast approaching and there's plenty of reasons to celebrate the country's 143rd birthday here in Scarborough.
Residents can feast on food, show their patriotic pride parade-style, or just kick back, relax, and watch red and white fireworks blaze across the night sky. There's a lengthy list of upcoming community celebrations planned locally.
Returning this year after being cancelled due to last summer's city workers strike is the Scarborough Canada Day Parade on Thursday, July 1. The day begins at 10 a.m. in Thomson Memorial Park with a pancake breakfast, followed by an afternoon of family friendly activities. There will be musicians and buskers performing, along with face painting and inflatable air castles for kids to play in. A barbecue lunch will also be held.
The parade begins at 4 p.m. at the Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr. The 50-plus float parade will head west to Brimley Road and then south to Thomson Park where it will wrap up around 7 p.m. after a final celebration.
For more information, call Suzanne at 416-396-4920.
There will be a fireworks display held later in the evening at Milliken Park, located east of McCowan Road, south of Steeles Avenue. The event begins at dusk and is free to attend, but parking spaces will be limited, so it is recommended spectators carpool or take public transit.
Toronto Fire Services is reminding everyone to refrain from bringing their own fireworks to this event; it is illegal to light them in public parks.
The Rotary Canada Day International Festival and Ribfest will be starting up on July 1 at L'Amoreaux Park, located near Kennedy Road and McNicoll Avenue. This admission-free event will feature live bands and other entertainment, midway rides, vendors selling handcrafted merchandise and, of course, food. There will be five different "ribbers" on site, along with other international food vendors.
The festival runs until Sunday, July 4 and opens daily at 11 a.m.
Highland Creek's Royal Canadian Legion Branch 258 will be holding its 55th annual Canada Day Parade this year. This long-standing community celebration dates back to 1955 and is the longest running parade of its kind in the city.
This year's grand marshals include the provincial Legion president Ed Pigeau and the provincial ladies auxiliary president Joan Femmick. The parade will begin at 10:45 a.m. at the corner of Morrish Road and Old Kingston Road and will work its way to the Legion hall at 45 Lawson Rd. Once there, the festivities will continue through the afternoon with activities and games for kids, as well as a barbecue and live music and entertainment.
"Looking back at all these years, the parade has always been well attended from the residents of Scarborough," said branch vice-president Wayne Powell.
He said the money raised from the food sales will go toward community events and programs the branch sponsors, and will also go toward supporting its veteran care programs.
Taking place on Wednesday, June 30 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. is the St. Paul's Canada Day "A Supportive Country" event at Bridlewood Mall, 2900 Warden Ave., at Finch Avenue. Mall guests will be able to take part in a number of patriotic activities, such as helping to put together a giant Canadian jigsaw puzzle that measures five by six metres, which was created by high school students from L'Amoreaux Collegiate.
There will also be a station set up for people to write letters of support to Canadian soldiers serving overseas. For older adults and seniors, a trivia game about Canadian facts and history will be played between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. In addition, there will be a barbecue lunch, birthday cake and prizes to be won.
The Chi Ping Dance Group will be holding a free dance party at the Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr., on Saturday, June 26.
The dance group will be performing a traditional dragon and lion dance at Albert Campbell Square, followed by an indoor multicultural show featuring other forms of dance, an arts and crafts display, and a Tai Chi demonstration. The fun begins at noon. For more information, call 905-475-2023.