The colour guard stands at attention for the national anthem after making their entrance at Kinsmen Park.(Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Canada Day 2019

Festivities underway for Canada Day

Jul 1, 2019 | 1:49 PM

UPDATE: Despite several heavy rainfalls throughout the afternoon, organizers of the Canada Day celebrations at Prince Albert’s riverbank said early Monday evening the finale fireworks display was still going ahead as planned.

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Canada’s 152nd birthday and two major events are underway in Prince Albert to mark the occasion.

At Kinsmen Park, the legion is hosting their annual Canada Day celebration, which includes music and a slow pitch tournament. Festivities got going with the legion colour guard marching in with flags this morning.

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Among the guard was Edwin Laird, who was president of the legion in 1966 when the event first started up. Back then the day was all about children and families, which hasn’t changed.

Laird said while attendance has died down in recent years it is still quite a bit bigger than when it all started over 50 years ago. He said it is important for the legion to continue putting on the event to honour the birth of the country.

“We’re so proud of Canada,” he said.

Volunteers making french fries in the deep fryer at Kinsmen Park (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

Brenda Cripps, who took the lead in organizing the event said being able to continue putting on something for the people of the city is important. She added it was especially nice to see people come out and see the colour guard.

“It means something because of our veterans past and present,” she said.

Cripps said she was hoping to see some more people come out to take everything in, including music and bingo. The Kinsmen Park celebrations as well saw the return of a slow pitch tournament, which welcomed two teams from out of town.

The slow pitch tournament is back on at Kinsmen Park this Canada Day (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

“Just trying to get more and more people out,” said Cripps.

A wide array of food trucks are at the riverbank for Canada Day Celebrations (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

Meanwhile at the city’s second event at Prince Albert’s riverbank preparations were underway for activities there. Volunteers for the event organized by the P.A. Multicultural Council were at work setting up the stage for the entertainment and a number of food trucks, offering a wide variety of fare were lining the street.

Set up was underway at the riverbank early this afternoon before the start of the entertainment (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

The riverbank was expected to get busier throughout the afternoon with the big finale of fireworks set for around 10:30 p.m.

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn