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
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.