Our Canada Day in Winnipeg
Winnipeg - Sunday, July 7, 2013
by:Timothy W. Shire
This year, we had the opportunity to spend Canada Day with two of our sons and a grand daughter. There were celebrations all over the city and since we had enjoyed one Canada Day several years ago at the Forks, we decided this year, to visit two different venues.
We went to the Osborne area of the city which had been turned into a sort of street fair with businesses, concessions, beer gardens, bands and a large number of people seeing and being seen in their Canada Day outfits. We even found a small contingent of protester from the “Idle No More” project with placards condemning the prime minister.
Here is a short clip of one band and some street performers.
Osborne was pretty entertaining and though our sons really would like to have spent more time there and listened to the music, it was pretty hot and their mom did not like the large crowd milling about, so we set off for Assiniboine Park.
Though this huge park normally has a crowd of tens of thousands, this year when we arrived in late afternoon, the crowd was light, primarily because some event planner, in their twisted logic, had decided to close the large parking areas to the public, so that there really was no way to get to the event other than by walking several miles, or riding a bike. My somewhat worsened state condition from my fall let us get through the gate with a car and we were able to park in one of the nearly empty parking lots.
The stage had a series of bands and performers and the atmosphere in the park was truly remarkable. I can not imagine a more appropriate place to spend Canada Day than in one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities. All around us, dressed in Canada Day outfits, were people from every corner of the globe, all proud to be Canadians, and their neighbours proud they have chosen Canada as their home.
We set up a nice shelter, well behind most of the crowd with other shelters and enjoyed the people, the music and then a barbecued supper. An instant discardable barbecue had made the trip onto the field with us and we had hamburgers, hot dogs, beans and laughter, and then, we were able to share our food with people sitting near us.
Though there was some sign of police, the whole scene was outrageously peaceful and just plain fun. There was a well staffed first aid tent with paramedics and an ambulance on standby. People came around passing out flags and a hotel passed out lighted wands to children as night approached.
The fireworks were positively stunning and filled the sky above us. Below is a six minute forty-six second video of the thirty minute show. If you decide to view the clip, click on the little button on the lower right corner to make the video full screen.
When the firework neared the end, the national anthem was played and the now monster crowd, sang and stood in respect to their country and its people.
Afterward, we leisurely packed up the chairs, a table, the shelter and the food containers. For the most part, as we made our way off the massive well mowed field, there was little or no litter. Ten minutes later, we were back to one of our son’s houses and then off we went, back to the Traveler’s RV Campground where the motorhome was patiently waiting for us. What a great day!
Check out “the pictures” page to see some of the scenes from both Osborne and Assiniboine Park.