Well, Canada Day has come and gone, and there was much to be celebrated and remembered.  

The day started off bright and early with an Indigenous Memorial and Recognition Ceremony at the biggest Canadian flag in Strathmore. The flag, which is near the TransCanada Highway, was surrounded by many who wanted to acknowledge Indigenous culture. An opening prayer, speeches, and closing prayer was be led by Indigenous elders and leaders and was live-streamed on the Town of Strathmore Facebook page. The flag was lowered to half-staff during the ceremony.  

Many then travelled to Siksika Nation for a tribute ceremony and convoy from the Old Crowfoot school site to Old Sun College. The ceremony honoured children who were lost to residential schools in Canada.  

READ MORE:  Honouring Children Lost To Residential Schools

Back in Strathmore, two pancake breakfasts were swarmed with hungry residents at the Strathmore Municipal Building and the Strathmore Fire Department. Soon after, at the Municipal Building, Town of Strathmore elected officials raised the building's flags and officially kicked off the Canada Day celebrations!  

One of the best events to come back this year was the Kids Bike Parade, brought to you by the Reps of Re/Max Key. Children of Strathmore crowded Kinsmen Park with their bikes decked out in streamers, bows and sparkles. Our own, Monique Massiah was on hand to judge this year's parade give out prizes for the best-decorated bikes!  

“It was a hard choice but all of the kids looked amazing this year!” she said.  

The Strathmore Scouts were also on hand to help out anyone who wanted to take a boat ride around Kinsmen Lake. Speaking of the lakes, Strathmore Lakes was a busy place too as there was family fishing all day long!  

“Personally, my favourite activity was fishing,” explained Scott Garnett,  marketing coordinator for the Town of Strathmore. ” I didn't catch anything, but I'm also terrible at fishing. Recreational pursuits are incredibly important to our Council and they recently created a policy that addresses a list of criteria for the recreational use of Kinsmen Lake and Strathmore Lakes. Utilizing Strathmore Lakes, in this year's Canada Day festivities enabled us to spread things out and make use of some great town amenities.” 

There were also lots of treasures and troves to be found at the Outdoor Market, held at the Strathmore Farmers Market Pavillion. The market was open from 12-6 pm and there was a steady stream of people flowing through the entire time.  

An addition to this year's festivities with the historic heatwave we have been experiencing was the cooling station the town had set up at the Strathmore Motor Products Sports Centre field house.

As the sunset, it was time to sit back and watch amazing fireworks show at the Strathmore Stampede Ag Grounds! The show was sponsored in partnership with Globalfest, The Fireworks Factory, Big Bang Fireworks, Strathmore & District Agricultural Society, Heckya, and the music streamed live on 104.5 More Country Radio.  

The show lived up to its hype and featured some great colours and lights that could be seen almost anywhere in town!  

“On behalf of the Marketing, Communications and Economic Development team here at the Town of Strathmore, I'd just like to express how extremely grateful we are to all the volunteers and businesses who stepped up to help us make this year's Canada Day a success,” said Garnett.