Belated Canada Day celebrations in Manitouwadge
Kristy Lachance cuts the cake as Emeraude Charron looks on, kicking off Manitouwadge's Canada Day celebrations in Manitouwadge on Saturday.
Manitouwadge’s Canada Day festivities had been cancelled Wednesday due to inclement weather but the sun shone Saturday as residents gathered at the Manitouwadge Recreation Centre to mark the special occasion. The Mtwdge Nursery School volunteers barbecued on the recreation centre lawn adjacent to the community’s outdoor pool which opened its fence to allow picnickers and swimmers easy access between the barbecue and the pool’s fun and races. Many parents lounged on the lawn enjoying their food as kids went back and forth between swimming and the activities taking place all over the recreation centre both inside & out. There were activities for all ages including a basketball tournament for 15 & under and 16 & up participants in the recreation centre arena, activities at the baseball field behind the centre, three legged races, squirt it and others in the lobby and front lawn and of course a large ‘birthday cake’ that was cut to officially kick off the day of fun.
In past years the community has traditionally held First day of summer celebrations earlier in the month, prior to Canada Day but as neither the weather nor the economy has been very hot, the Township of Manitouwadge had decided to meld the two celebrations into one making it that much more important that the day not be cancelled. Director of Leisure Services Randy Mattson explained that it was time, “We hadn’t celebrated together since the snow melted and needed an opportunity to get out and enjoy each others’ company”. Celebrations continued well into the evening.
Emeraude relaxing on the Rec Cenre lawn.
