Happy 150th, Canada! Love, Huntsville

Huntsville was red and white all over as the town celebrated the 150th anniversary of Canada’s confederation on July 1.

Early in the morning, before many were even out of bed, Coldwell Banker Thompson Real Estate volunteers were gathering to plant Canada flags along roadsides and beside driveways all over town. The Lions Club was ready for them – and other early risers – with their annual peameal bacon breakfast in River Mill Park.

The day’s festivities kicked off with a Decades Parade honouring everything from the land and its Indigenous peoples, right through to many of the present-day things that make Huntsville great. The parade gathered a large crowd that lined Main Street and then followed the final entry – a birthday cake created by the Rotary Club of Huntsville and the Downtown Huntsville BIA – into River Mill Park for more celebration.

Participants in the parade carried signs denoting key moments in Huntsville’s and Canada’s history. It was organized by Teri Souter, Kelly Haywood, Amanda Hill, Rachel Hunt, Cortney LeGros, Darla Stipanovich, Lisa Spolnik, Margaret Stead and Torin Suddaby.

Following the parade, the crowd was serenaded by 100-voice choir – a fringe initiative by Huntsville Festival of the Arts – accompanied by the Muskoka Concert Band.

A 100-voice choir – a fringe initiative by Huntsville Festival of the Arts – sings out over a sea of red and white

Speeches followed, opened by John Sailors with a reminder about the injustices borne by Indigenous peoples and hope for future reconciliation and healing.

“As many Canadians are celebrating today, many Anishinaabe people are doing their part to resist in their own way because even though Canada is an amazing country, it has come at a cost: the Indian Act. I often hear, ‘this is so long ago’, or ‘get over it’, but there are residential school survivors walking in our community today and that has a lasting effect on many generations down,” said Sailors. “Now, our land and water is being poisoned in the name of profit. To this day, we are being exploited.

“But I am so honoured to be a part of making growth and change happen by being here today and speaking with you. I think it’s important to continue having these conversations to continue to move forward. But I’m not here to ask you to feel sorry for us; I am here to ask you to join us. Join us at our pow wows, join us in our resistance, join us in taking a stand against those who would poison our lands and our waters. But most of all, join us in healing because our people have experienced a lot of hurt. But we remain strong and we will grow even stronger if we continue to work together. Miigwech.” (Listen to Sailors’ speech below.)

Mayor Scott Aitchison, MP Tony Clement and MPP Norm Miller all wished the revellers a happy Canada Day. Clement and Miller presented Aitchison and the Town of Huntsville with both a Canada flag and an Ontario flag – both actually made in Canada, they joked.

Captain George Hunt, Huntsville’s namesake (played by Ron Gostlin), shared a humorous take on the life of early European settlers:

No party would be complete without cake – following the music and speeches, Town councillors and staff served up Canada 150 cupcakes.

River Mill Park wasn’t the only site of Canada Day fun. The Huntsville Legion served up a barbecue accompanied by the Cameron of Lochiel Pipes and Drums.

The Muskoka Heritage Place Strawberry Social and Steam-Up Day served up old-timey fun with strawberries on scones, music by the Glen Reid Duo, and the first steam train rides of the season.

Meanwhile, back on Main Street, parade-goers carried on the celebration at the Canada 150 street festival where there was delicious food, a drum circle, a bouncy house and deals from downtown merchants.

Fireworks high above Hunters Bay, courtesy of the Huntsville Lake of Bays Fire Department, topped off the day of celebrations.

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