In-person Canada Day celebrations return to the Ottawa Valley
Three years on from the last in-person Canada Day celebrations in Pembroke, Waterfront Park in Pembroke was packed for Canada's 155th birthday.
"Oh, I'm really pleased," said Mayor Mike LeMay. "So after two years of being shut down to see so many people here...I think we'll have a great afternoon."
This will be LeMay's last Canada Day as mayor of Pembroke, as it has been announced he will not run in this fall's municipal election. He's happy he'll get to spend his final Canada Day in the job with his constituents.
"What a great Canada Day to have," LeMay told CTV News. "That we're almost back to normal, not quite, but being able to really celebrate and enjoy the day. And seeing everybody smile and knowing that they're going to have a great time makes my day and also makes my term as mayor so I'm quite happy."
Local vendors and food options were available at the Pembroke Marina, along with performers, live music, Indigenous educational opportunities, a petting zoo, and inflatable attractions for kids.
Headlining the day's festivities was Canadian country music artist Andrew Hyatt.
"It's always great to come to any town and having them invite us out to play music, and this is going to be a cool one," Hyatt said, who was performing at the Marina Amphitheatre. "It's nice to sometimes be in a little bit more of an intimate setting to be able to talk about the songs and tell stories."
Hyatt says he grew up on Canada Day celebrations just like Pembroke's.
"I grew up in Sudbury, so we'd go down to Bell Park and check out bands and just enjoy time with our families," said the country music artist. "So hopefully people are doing the same today."
With families back filling the park and seeing old friends, it was a special first of July that felt like old times.
"Just spending time with family today," said Paul Jurgens, who attended Waterfront Park with his two kids and parents. "We haven't been together quite a bit with the pandemic. So just having good, quality family time."
"It's nice to get out and see everybody and be around a bunch of people," said Brittany Wieland, sharing ice cream with her family, "so it's been good."
The return of Canada Day to Pembroke and the valley is being capped with a fireworks display at 10:00 p.m. at Riverside Park.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
'I just want to be safe': Ukrainian man in Canada faces limbo amid consular freeze
A recent decision to restrict consular services for fighting-aged Ukrainian men has made a Ukrainian man in Canada feel less certain of his next steps — and worried he could be pulled back to the war.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.