Behind The Scenes At Canada Day In Sydenham

Wilma Kenny | Jul 04, 2013

Mike Howe, who along with John Trousdale coordinated the Canada Day celebrations in Sydenham, credits many generous and hard-working volunteers with making the event a success. “It’s always harder to draw a crowd when July 1st falls on a weekend,” said Howe, “a lot of folks go off to the cottage, then come in at night for the fireworks.”

Certainly, the pyrotechnics Monday night were amazing, in spite of threatening rain showers and wind gusts. A show like that is expensive: as well as grants, the SHS students donated $500, and the Sydenham Lake Association $1,000, half of which they collected by kayak, canvassing the boats in the bay during last year’s fireworks.

Howe also spoke of the hands-on, all-day assistance from the many members of the Sydenham Lions Club, and SHS student council leaders Alex Green and Jess Bell. The Canoe Club managed the food concession, and after the parade, a day-long line-up of local musicians kept folks at the Point entertained. The children's activities were well attended: bouncing castle, pony rides, and most especially face-painting, the latter organized by Ann Barlow.