City set for big Canada Day celebration

It’s one of the biggest Canada Day celebrations the city’s ever seen.The day is filled with events at two locations, the Hollinger Park and Gillies Lake.

Events begin with Mr. Canada, Karl Habla leading his Canada Day walk from City Hall to the Flag Park in Schumacher at 11 a.m.

The day’s emcee, Mike Doody will then introduce local dignitaries at noon.  They include Mayor Steve Black, and a parade featuring the Royal Canadian Legion Br. 88 & Legion Br. 287 Colour Party and RCSC Corps TIGER Band. MP,Charlie Angus, MPP, Gilles Bisson and Chief of the Mattagami First Nations, Walter Naveau will make remarks as well.

Live music kicks off at 1 p.m. with local acts including Gabriella Bazzara, Dan Yergeau (Skinny), Kickback Tracii, and Relic Kings.

The Gillies Lake location is featuring Kayak rentals, pedal boat rentals and the Wake Park is offering free wake boarding to children between the ages of five and fourteen. Also on the docket is 3-on-3 volleyball, relay races and sandcastle building contests.

Priming the crowd for the final musical act will be a $22,000-dollar fireworks display.  It’s being set off from the Holligner Pit berm at 10:30 p.m. followed by the Relic Kings at 11 p.m.