Did you know that Huntsville’s first doctor, Dr. F.L. Howland, also created the first known Medicaid-type program in Ontario? Or that the precursor to the Huntsville Public Library, the Mechanics Institute, opened way back in 1891. Or that the Huntsville Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce’s roots go back as far as 1899 to the then Board of Trade?
You can learn about these parts of Huntsville’s history and many more in the Decades Parade happening on Canada Day for Canada’s sesquicentennial. And if you want to get even closer to history, organizers are still looking for about 20 more volunteers to carry signs signifying events from Huntsville’s early days right up to the present, along with jugglers, clowns, stilt walkers and the like who want to join the fun. (Contact Rose Evans, Volunteer Coordinator, at Volunteer Muskoka if you can help at [email protected].)
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to participate in making history while Huntsville’s history strolls down Main Street,” said Teri Souter, the Town’s Manager of Art, Culture and Heritage and one of the parade’s organizers, along with Kelly Haywood, Amanda Hill, Rachel Hunt, Cortney LeGros, Darla Stipanovich, Lisa Spolnik, Margaret Stead and Torin Suddaby.
There are 72 entries in the walking parade – which has just one motorized vehicle from the World War II era – beginning with the Canadian Shield 3.5 billion years ago.
“We don’t include everything that happened from then until now, but we give it a good shot,” laughed Souter. “We don’t just go through history, but right up to the present and what makes Huntsville great now. And we take a little peek at the hope we have for the future, too.”
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- Signs like this one will introduce each of the historic events in the parade
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- Mr and Mrs John Bahen were two of Huntsville’s early residents
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- A Muskoka Wood Manufacturing tent of camping river drivers
It will be a fun way learn about our past, and you may discover a few things that surprise you while also getting to know many of the organizations that call Huntsville home. “It involves the whole community,” said Hunt. “That’s what I think is so neat about this – it invites and involves all of the different community groups that make our town what it is. People are going to learn a lot but in a fun and engaging way.”
The usual parade protocol has been abandoned for this event. Instead of leading the parade, dignitaries will instead form an honour guard at Town Hall, and the Legion’s colour guard will appear in the parade’s timeline.
Parade attendees are asked to get in the spirit and wear red and white, and also bring a non-perishable food item for The Table Soup Kitchen who will represent the Dirty Thirties and will collect donations in wagons.
“Canada is relatively young and we are coming together in a good way to try to move forward in a better way by acknowledging all that has happened in the past,” said Souter. “What we enjoy today is based on a really solid foundation of heritage.”
The parade begins at 9:00 a.m. on July 1 and runs down Main Street from Centre Street to King Street and into River Mill Park where there will be a 100-voice choir, the Muskoka Concert Band, speeches, cupcakes, and Canada Day swag.
Learn more here and don’t forget to check out these other Canada Day events and activities happening throughout the day:
- 6 a.m. Coldwell Banker Thompson Real Estate displays 7000 Canadian flags throughout Huntsville and Port Sydney (watch for them at roadside everywhere!)
- 8 a.m. Lions Club Breakfast in River Mill Park featuring peameal bacon on a bun
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Huntsville 100K Farmers Market on West Street South
- 9:50 a.m. Muskoka Concert Band & Huntsville Festival Choir in River Mill Park
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Muskoka Heritage Place Strawberry Social & Steam Up Day with live entertainment, costumed narrators, historical demonstrations and strawberry scones with fresh cream, while supplies last (regular admission rates apply)
- 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Port Sydney Celebration at Port Sydney Beach with music and BBQ, sand castle competition, kids’ activities and more
- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Downtown Huntsville Food & Music Festival on Main Street
- 11 a.m. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232 all-day BBQ, band from 2-6 p.m., roast beef dinner starting at 5 p.m. (two sittings), and dancing to live music from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.
- 2-3:15 p.m. Painting the Wilderness of the Oxtongue film at the Algonquin Theatre sponsored by Algonquin Outfitters (Tickets are available at algonquintheatre.ca or at the Algonquin Theatre box office.)
- 10 p.m. Fireworks launch over Hunters Bay behind the Fire Hall – tune in to Moose FM 105.5 for musical accompaniment
This is a sponsored story paid for by the featured advertiser
On July 1st as part of the Town of Huntsville’s celebrations, 85 singers will perform in River Mill Park along with The Muskoka Concert Band at approximately 9:50. This choir is a Canada 150 Fringe initiative organized by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts. It is a collaboration of choir members from the Huntsville Community choir, the Almaguin Choral Society, the Rock choir, the Muskoka Music Men, the Lofts, the Huntsville Youth choir as well as previous members of choirs in the area. The choir will be singing four Canadian songs and Oh Canada. Two of the songs will be conducted by Louis Tusz, the choral director of the Huntsville Community Choir and two by Gloria Kidd, the choral Director of the Almaguin Choral Society. We hope that you will enjoy this event.
Karen Cassian HFA President