“Recognition such as this means that over the past years we have done the right things; improving as each year passes and maintaining our aim of providing a low-cost family day in the park for all age groups and backgrounds,” says Fred Paddock, Chair of the Canada Day Society. “The award really is the result of selfless labour from volunteers; whether involved in fundraising activities, committee or administrative tasks, or the long hard labour of the Canada Day event itself. This award is something that all of us involved in celebrating Canada Day here in Medicine Hat can feel pride towards.”

Canada Day Celebration 2010

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 2010 was held at Kin Coulee Park. Canada Day Celebration 2010 will be remembered as the best Canada Day Celebration with largest participation of young families.

In order to avoid traffic congestion in the Kin Coulee area, Free Shuttle Bus was provided from 7:00 am until the last participant was accommodated after Fireworks display. Route #1: From Medicine Hat Lodge – Casino By Vanshaw, Southview Mall,13^th Ave Co-op, Medicine Hat College.  Route # 2:  From Crescent Heights High School, Arena, Downtown Transit Terminal and Division Ave Safeway.  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 Western Tractor) 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 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 1,375 people attended the free breakfast and enjoyed the musical accompaniment. 

The Ecumenical Service followed the breakfast at 9:30 am and was led by Pastor Gary Mason, President of the Medicine Hat and District Ministerial Association.

O Canada and Worship in Song was by Generations Band, First Assembly, consisting Shasta Budvarson (worship leader and guitar), Zach Christiensen (bass)

Michael Fischer (drums), Craig Jesske (keys) and Andrew Seib (guitar)

Children's Ministry: Lori White, The Dream Centre

Youth Ministry: Pastor Michael Fischer, First Assembly

Speaker: The Reverend Dr Nancy Cocks, St John's Presbyterian Church

Benediction: The Rev Canon Gene Packwood, President of the Medicine Hat Evangelical Association

The Entertainment at the Bandshell was appreciated by a large crowd.  This year seating capacity was increased to 800 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:

Drew Darley: The Drew Darley Band played songs of Canada, Ireland, and Scotland. The musicians in the band play a variety of instruments including guitars, mandolin, flute, and electronic bag pipes! The Band members are Drew Darley, Pipe Major Eric Kean, Renato D’ippilito, Richard Pratt, and Nigel Doe.

Dance Connection: The Dance Connection has been teaching dance classes for over 12 years. This Canada Day, they are proud to be featuring their three belly dance troupe’s: Raks-A-Habibi, Little Habibi, and Level III Belly Dancers.

They also had a Zumba Team that showed what they do in class and what a fun workout it is.

Jimmy Rigged: Jimmy Rigged is a newly formed band, consisting of six band members: Lead Singer and Songwriter-Jocelyn Hodel, Co-Singer and Bass Player-Corey Davidson, Back-Up Vocals-Ashley Hodel, Drummer-Ryan, Electric Guitar-Clayton, and the Fiddle-Ezra. Jimmy Rigged sings a variety of songs but their common genre is contemporary / country.

Vesna Ukrainian Dance Ensemble: Vesna is comprised of 16 dancers, aged from 12 – 17.  Many have been dancing together from a young age and progressed to the dancers that make up Vesna today. The meaning of VESNA is “Spring”!    Vesna was  originally Junior Kupalo, up until  2008,  when the  name  change took  place as an attempt to  give  the younger members of the dance club their  own  identity.  The philosophy of Vesna remains the same as was Junior Kupalo, to share in the love and culture of Ukrainian dance and to have fun doing so. 

Island Breeze South Pacific Dancers: Island Breeze Alberta and Island Breeze Canada took us on an exciting journey to the Islands of Polynesian in the South Pacific, through dances and songs. Island Breeze South Pacific dancers and musicians from the South Pacific join with the city of Medicine Hat to celebrate Canada Day Polynesian Island style. Happy Canada Day and God bless Canada, from the men and women of Island Breeze Canada and Island Breeze Alberta!

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 143rd Birthday.  Local Dignitaries were lead on the stage by Piper Matt Action followed by a Colour Party of members of Medicine Hat Police Services Cst. Terry Grabowski, Cst. Brent Bohrn, Cst. Brian Bohrn, and Sgt. Paul Taylor.

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 Gas City Barbershop Chorus, part in English & in French, 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),  Cornerstone Garden Market Sobeys and Medicine Hat Co-op and Northland Co-op.  In the  new category of “Creative Independent” we had one contestant.  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, Sharon Turnbridge 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 2010 Birthday Cake Competition were:

·        Best Decorated tie:                                     -Safeway in the Mall

                                                                        -Sobeys

·        Best Tasting:                                               -Co-op Northlands

·        Honourable Mention Tasting:                      -Co-op 13^th 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: Alberta Health Services-EMS, Canadian Forces SALH, Canadian Red Cross, Darfur Cultural Association of Medicine Hat, Friday Nite Cruisers/Cypress Rod and Custom, Historic Clay District, History in the Hills Society – Paw wow Club, Medicine Hat & District Genealogical Society, Medicine Hat Astronomy Club, Medicine Hat Auto Racing Association, Medicine Hat Fire Service, Medicine Hat Interpretive Program, Medicine Hat Pregnancy & Family Support, Praxis-The Science & Technology Hotline, REDI Green Team, Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, Saamis Immigration Services Association, Service Canada Center for Youth, SOS Senior K9 Pet Rescue and The Medicine Hat Tai Chi & Qi-Goug.

 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 Community View Lions Club, Crestwood School, German Canadian Harmonie Choir Medicine Hat Society, Glenview Nazarene Work and Witness, Higher Ground Christian School, Medicine Hat and District Canada Day Society, 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 Western Tractor, 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 Aisha Beile Topin, Arthur C. Watt, Artist Airbrushing, Everything Beadful, Friendz Airbrushing, Foot Candy, Henna Artistry, It’s a Family Affair, Material Girlz, Miss Teen Medicine Hat, MI Jewellery Designs, Outlaw Heart Creations, Pampered Pet Treats,  PC Jewel and Gift, Sonja’s Glitter Tats, SOS Senior K9 Pet Rescue, Spa Toe – Pia, Tharshin Fashing 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 Martial Law, Breaking the Circle, The Purple Grotto, Blacksmith Jones and the highlight was the performance of the band Social Code. 

The Annual Sandfly Festival this year’s event featured three spectacular bands consisting of all different genres of music.  The first performance was by Brock Quast Band from Medicine Hat played from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.  The second band also from Medicine Hat Kool Ray and The Hip Katz played from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Headliner “The Stampeders” performed from 9:30 pm until the fantastic fireworks display started.  Estimated audience was 15,000 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 15,000 people attended this year’s birthday celebrations in Kin Coulee Park during the daytime and another 15,000 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