THUNDER BAY - The rain just didn’t want to let up, leading to small crowds and cancelled events, but the weather wasn’t going to stop some from showing their national pride this Canada Day.
“It’s Canada Day,” said Kyle Boyce. “Everyone should come out and celebrate Canada’s 151stbirthday. We’re Canadians, we’re used to this kind of weather. Doesn’t bother us at all.”
Boyce, along with friends Katie Olsen and Karli Doust braved the rain to celebrate Canada day at Marina Park. There were much smaller crowds this year due do rain, which was heavy at times, leading organizers to cancel the festivities a little more than an hour after they kicked off, including the much anticipated fireworks display.
“There’s less people around, but there are still a lot of people out,” said Ash Young, cultural development and events supervisor with the city of Thunder Bay before the events at Marina Park were cancelled shortly after 7 p.m.
“It surprises me how many people are still around and doing some of the activities. You can’t control the weather.”
There were smaller than normal crowds at Fort William Historical Park as well taking in outdoor activities like log sawing competitions, canoe rides, axe throwing, and live entertainment.
Luckily for those who came earlier in the day, like Jodi Wright and her three daughters, the rain held off long enough to have some fun.
“We heard it was going to pour later today so we decided to come out here and get some of the activities done before the rain started,” Wright said.
And just because the weather wasn’t cooperating, it would take a lot more than a few rain showers to douse the national pride of those braving the rain to wish Canada a happy birthday.
“We really wanted to do some Canada Day celebrations,” Wright said. “The girls are so excited that its Canada’s birthday. They woke up this morning, jumped out of bed, and said: It’s Canada Day and started running around the house and got their Canada Day dresses on. So they are pretty jazzed about it all.”
Boyce, Doust, and Olsen said one of their favourite parts of celebrating Canada Day is the fireworks display, but luckily it’s not the only thing to look forward to.
“I would say the best part is celebrating it with friends and loved ones,” Doust said.
“We are proud to be Canadian,” Olsen said. “It’s a free country, we are open and honest people.”
“Canada is a very beautiful country and very welcoming,” Boyce added. “It’s respectful to all people from all walks of life. It is a great country to live in.”
Even though the people of Thunder Bay won’t be celebrating the nation’s birthday with fireworks, there will still be an opportunity to take in the spectacle. Young said the fireworks have been postponed until the last Live on the Waterfront concert on Aug. 29.
