| The Outstanding Alberta Celebrate Canada Award was presented to the
Medicine Hat and District Canada Day Society at the Dec. 4, 2006 City
Council meeting. Canada Day Celebration 2009
The Medicine Hat and District Canada Day Society is
incorporated under the Society Act of the Province of Alberta.
The Society is a volunteer committee of citizens from Medicine
Hat and District to organize and conduct the Canada Day
Celebration. Canada Day 2009 was held at Kin Coulee Park. Canada
Day Celebration 2009 will be remembered as the best Canada Day
Celebration with largest participation...
In order to avoid traffic congestion in the Kin Coulee area,
Free Shuttle Bus service from the Crescent Heights High
School, Downtown Transit Terminal, Medicine Hat High School,
Southview Centre, Medicine Hat Co-op, and Medicine Hat College
parking lots was offered. Shuttle bus service started at 7:00 am
running 30 minutes intervals with the last trip at midnight
after the fireworks. Golf carts and a People Mover (provided by
Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede powered by tractor provided
by Green Power) transported people from each end of the park as
this was a long walk for seniors, the handicapped and small
children. Three Kubota units from Pinnacle International were
used by committee members to get pop, water and supplies to
various locations around the park.
General Services of First Aid was provided by St. John
Ambulance and of Lost Child or Parent was provided by South
Eastern Alberta Search and Rescue.
The Celebration began with a Free Pancake Breakfast at
7:30 am provided by Medicine Hat Lions Club. Musical
entertainment was provided by The Medicine Hat and District Live
Music Club. Over 1,600 people attended the free breakfast and
enjoyed the musical accompaniment.
The Ecumenical Service followed the breakfast at 9:30
am and was led by Worship Planning Committee consisting of
Pastor Gary Mason, Pastor Jordie Roste Father John Nemanic and
The Reverend Gene Packwood.. Participants of various segments
were as indicated below.
Children’s Ministry was by Natasha Clark of Hillcrest Church.
Prayers for Canada was by Madison Edwards, Aiden Heller, Rhea
Kumar, Victor Ugobi and Elizabeth Zemp.
Youth Ministry was by Pastor Jordie Roste of Victory Lutheran
Church.
Worship in Song was by The Friday Night Live Band of Victory
Lutheran Church consisting of Jordie Roste, Guitar and vocals;
Joyce Krause, Lead vocals; Jeannie Boylan, Acoustic guitar and
vocals; Mandy Goranson, Keyboard and vocals; Tom Goranson, Lead
guitar; Bryce Welz, Bass guitar and Marshal Garlock, Drums.
The main speaker was Dr. Len Zoeteman of Calgary Full gospel
Church..
The Entertainment at the Bandshell was appreciated by
a large crowd. This year seating capacity was increased to 600
and all the seats were occupied for the duration of the
entertainment.
The Bandshell line-up schedule was very packed and went until
after 6:00pm. The Audience seating remained very well filled
through out the afternoon. The performers were as follows:
Hanson School of Dance – Approximately fifteen dancers
of all ages performed a variety of dances including ballet, tap,
jazz, musical theatre and hip-hop. There were gorgeous costumes
and colours used, and the performance was excellent.
Wynter Beaudin- The fifteen year old McCoy High School
student was a finalist in the Karaoke Start Junior National
Competition. She did a great job. A lot of people came
especially to hear Wynter sing, and they were not disappointed.
Wynter also sang “Oh Canada” for us.
Ron Mason- This band is a trio including a mandolin
and a base player. The songs were based on the Medicine Hat and
District National Clay Historic District. It was a superb
performance with a great variation of music.
Anna Wa Ockti Dance Studio- Approximately thirty
dancers (8 teenagers, 10 adults, and 12 children) performed
Cabaret and American Style Belly Dancing. It was an outstanding
performance and the costumes were beautiful.
Monday Morning- The band consists of four friends that
have been involved with music since they were in high school.
This newly formed band performed soft rock cover music. They are
a great band with a bright future ahead of them.
Medicine Hat Friendship Society- Native dancers are an
integral part of our Canadian Heritage. The dancers performed a
variety of traditional dances in an array of colourful costumes.
Be Sound- Be Sound is a newly formed group with this
being their second major exposure. They perform blues, rock,
soft rock and country rock genres of music. Some of the band
members also belong to the band Haymaker. It was an excellent
performance and they are definitely bound for success.
Island Breeze South Pacific Dancers- As usual they put
of a professional performance. They are obviously wee-rehearsed
and perform high energy dancing with outstanding costumes. They
so cleverly reminded us of our history and freedoms which we
mostly take for granted. A truly fitting end performance for
Canada’s 142nd birthday celebration at the Bandshell.
Thank you to Christy Mitchell, from The Lounge-102.1, who did
an excellent job of emceeing. Her professionalism and
preparation did not go unnoticed.
This year our Opening Ceremonies celebrated Canada’s
142nd Birthday. Local Dignitaries were lead on the stage by
Piper Cameron Clark followed by a Colour Party of members of
Medicine Hat Police Services Cst. Paul Taylor, Sgt. Darlene
Garrecht, Cst. Brian Bohrn, Cst. Clarke White. Local dignitaries
included Member of Parliament LaVar Payne; Members of
Legislative Assembly Honourable Rob Renner, Minister of
Environment; and Len Mitzel; Mayor Norman Boucher of the City of
Medicine Hat, and Chair of the Medicine Hat and District Canada
Day Society Pat Flinn and Larry Godin, Master of Ceremonies.
The singing of the National Anthem was done by Wynter Beaudin,
the audience was invited to sing along and they were pleased to
be invited to participate.
All dignitaries spoke on what it means for them to be
Canadian and how truly fortunate we are to live in a country
such as Canada. Larry Godin was Master of Ceremonies and did a
great job.
The Annual Canada Day Birthday Cake Best Decorated and
Best Taste Contest took place near the Bandshell. Participants
included Canada Safeway (Medicine Hat Mall), Division Avenue
Safeway, Cornerstone Garden Market Sobeys and Medicine Hat
Co-op, Northland Co-op and Wal-Mart. A new category was created
this year to allow home-based cake making businesses to
participate in their own cake competition. This year we had one
contestant in this category. We hope that in the years to come,
word will have circulated and more home-based businesses will
want to participate. It is our requirement that all home-based
businesses are licensed and properly equipped to bake in their
homes.
The entries were judged by Sherri Ferland and Stan Sakomoto.
After the cakes were judged, pieces of cake were served by
members of the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat to an estimated 3,200
people.
The results of the 2009 Birthday Cake Competition were:
• Best Decorated: - Safeway in the Mall
• Best Tasting: - Co-op Northlands
• Honourable Mention Decorated: - Sobey’s
• Honourable Mention Decorated: - Wal-Mart
• Honourable Mention Tasting: - Co-op 13th Ave.
• Honourable Mention Tasting: - Safeway Div. Ave.
• Independent Creative: - Cake Break
Public participation from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm was achieved
through:
1. Children’s activities are opportunity to entertain,
educate and stimulate the curiosity of Children towards positive
attitude and self-confidence. Children’s activities participants
included Eagles Nest Ranch Fun Zone, Giant Basketball, Pitch
Burst Reverse Dunk Tank, Jump World, Water Tag Maze, Giant
Slide, Giant Climb and Slide Jumper, Face Painting and Shiners
Clown
2. Displays and Demonstrations is an area that gives
local non profit / non commercial organizations an opportunity
to promote awareness through brochure, literature, display and
demonstration etc. making new contacts. Space is given
throughout the centre of the park for the organizations to set
up their display and / or demonstrations. The Display and
Demonstration participants included: Agnes Adam Lee Centre, City
of Medicine Hat Fire Services, Cypress Rod and Custom Car Club –
Friday Nite Cruisers, Medicine Hat Astronomy Club, Medicine Hat
Auto Racing Association, Medicine Hat Clay Industries National
Historic District, Medicine Hat & District Genealogical Society,
Medicine Hat Friendship Society, Medicine Hat Interpretive
Program, Medicine Hat Pregnancy and Family Support, Medicine Hat
Service Canada Centre for Youth, Medicine Hat Tai Chi
Association, Monarch Theatre, Palliser Health Region EMS, Praxis
– The Science and Technology Hotline, Royal Canadian Sea Cadets,
Saamis Immigration Services Association, S.O.S. Senior K-9
Rescue Society, South Alberta Light Horse and The Canadian Red
Cross Society. .
3. Food Alley - This is an area set aside in the park
where people can sample different tastes from around the world
from the different cultures that reside in and represent Canada.
All participants of the Food Alley are not for profit
organizations. The participants in the Food Alley were Crestwood
School, German Canadian Harmonie Choir Medicine Hat Society,
Higher Ground Christian School, Medicine Hat and District Canada
Day Society, Medicine Hat YMCA Karate Club, The Connection and
Unisphere Global Resource Centre. All proceeds went towards
Fundraising opportunity for these different non-profit
organizations.
4. Hay Ride – Two John Deer Tractors, provided by
Green Power, pulled hay wagons around the park from 9:30 am
until 9:00 pm. This is a very popular event with line-ups to get
on all throughout the day.
5. Hobby Craft - This is an opportunity for individual
(or organization) Artists, Hobby Crafters to exhibit and / or
sell their locally made handicraft at the Canada day
Celebrations. The participants were Arthur C. Watt, Artist,
Everything Beadful, Friendz Airbrushing, Helga’s House of
Handcrafts, Henna Artistry, It’s a Family Affair, Material Girlz,
PC Jewel and Gift, Sonja’s Glitter Tats, Spa Toe – Pia and Venus
Promotions.
6. Zed Fest - Youth Actives focuses the youth (at a
stage of transition from child to adult) to channel their energy
to the activities they appreciate and enjoy. The Bands were
Atrophy Life, The Evidence, Planets and Passenger Action. The
highlight of the evening was a free youth barbeque sponsored by
the Dream Center.
MY 96 and New Country CHAT 94.5 presented the Annual
Sandfly Festival this year with the Medicine Hat and
District Canada Day Society being the major financial sponsor.
This year’s event featured three spectacular bands consisting of
all different genres of music. The first performance was by Rob
Hudec Band from Medicine Hat played from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The
second band Marianas Trench played from 7:30 to 9:30 pm.
Headliner The Road Hammers performed from 9:30pm until the
fantastic fireworks display started. Estimated audience was
20,000 people.
The All Nations Optimist Clubs Supper consisted of
Perogies & Sausages with chips, pop and/or Coffee. This year
supper was served from 5:30 to 11:00 pm which was much
appreciated by Sandfly Festival audience.
The day’s finale was represented in the sky through
fireworks. Fireworks are the “talk of the Town” the best
show seen in Medicine Hat and difficult to surpass in years to
come! A spectacular show glimmered in the sky for all of
Medicine Hat and District to enjoy if not the best Fireworks
ever seen in Medicine Hat.
We had over 20,000 people attended this year’s birthday
celebrations in Kin Coulee Park during the daytime and another
20,000 attending the Sandfly Festival. An estimated 40,000
people enjoyed the fireworks. Nothing but positive feedback and
huge smiles were given throughout the day and afterwards.
This wonderful day could not have occurred without the
strong commitment of the committee members, hard work by
volunteers, as well as the support of financial contributors and
sponsors
John John
Administrating Director.
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