Timmins residents can look forward to an explosive atmosphere at this year’s Canada Day festivities.
A press conference was held on Thursday morning at the McIntyre Arena auditorium where Guy Lamarche, Manager of Tourism, Events and Communications formally announced the details of city run events.
“I think it’s important to celebrate the great country that we live in and I think this year we stepped up the game somewhat. It’s a much bigger program. I think it’s fitting, knowing that we’re celebrating 50 years of the (modern) Canadian flag this year and knowing that we’re two years away from the country’s 150th anniversary. So in my mind, this is a stepping stone towards 2017,” said Lamarche.
The celebration will begin at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1 from the Participark in Mountjoy, beside the Mattagami River.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for noon.
Dignitaries will be piped in by the Timmins Police Pipe and Drums, followed by a Legion Branch 288 and Branch 287 Colour Party.
Following speeches and the singing of O Canada, there will be a special presentation of Aboriginal drum, dance and smudge followed by the cutting of the Canada Day cake and distribution of red and white cupcakes.
The day will conclude with what the organizers are calling one of the largest fireworks displays the city has ever seen.
A big reason for that is the support of 21 local businesses that sponsored the event, an initiative of Paul Woodward of The Bucket Shop.
Their combined efforts allowed Tourism Timmins to turn the $10,000 show into a $20,000 blowout.
“This is all about the sponsors. This is a group of people who have come together for the greater good of the community, a group of people who believe in the cause,” said Lamarche.
Among the goals of the expanded celebration, is the possibility of drawing visitors from surrounding communities in Northeastern Ontario.
“I think that at some point, those living in the greater Timmins area, say from Hearst to New Liskeard, may see value in taking a trip to Timmins given the extensive program that we’re developing. A $20,000 fireworks extravaganza is huge. If people thought that the Great Canadian Kayak Challenge had a super fireworks display, wait until you see the one planned for Canada Day,” said Lamarche.
Mayor Steve Black agreed that they hope to make Canada Day in Timmins not just for city residents, but for the entire region.
“With what we have planned for this year and the coming years, you’ll really see a draw come in from surrounding communities,” said Black.
“I think maybe we haven’t stepped up as much as we should have in the past, and as a regional centre, I think we have a bit of an obligation to host these events and to do a good job,” he said.
A new addition to the program is a complimentary shuttle bus service which is provided by Leuschen Transportation.
It will begin at 10:45 a.m., and will run until midnight with continuous service to and from Participark with stops at the Whitney Arena (Porcupine), the McIntyre Arena (Schumacher) and the municipal parking lot at Cedar Street and Algonquin Boulevard (Downtown Timmins).
“This was a definite priority. There will be a food and beverage tent. Whenever you can minimize traffic and provide people with easy access to an event, the better. Parking is obviously an issue, and has always been an issue when hosting events of this magnitude at that park. We tend to believe that a lot of people will leave their cars behind, get on the courtesy shuttle, safely make their way to the park and safely make their way back home. It’s a win-win,” said Lamarche.
TimminsToday asked Black about the decision to have the fireworks ceremonies at Participark on the Mattagami River, instead of previous hosts such as Gillies Lake and Pearl Lake in Schumacher, and whether the Rotary RibFest factored into the decision.
“It played a role. It makes it easier for setup and teardown when you already have the tents and everything set up, and you don’t have to go through the costs of sending crews out to take them down and move them to another location a few days later. But the decision to be there is really part of the vision going forward and some of the things I’d like to tie in,” said Black.
He mentioned some ‘big plans’ for future fireworks shows and possible expansions to the festivities.
“We’ll meet after this year is done and discuss the location and whether it works or not and whether Participark is the best spot to have it. Obviously there’s been discussion about Gillies Lake because it’s a great location for viewing fireworks, there’s so much area around for residents to sit and watch,” said Black.
As for this year, the organizers and sponsors expect big crowds and if Timmins and area residents are serious about hosting larger events and outdoor concerts, showing community support in numbers will go a long way.
“It’s really nice to see the community come together and support something that is beneficial for all members of the community, so you know what, this should be one big Canada Day party. Fingers are crossed for the weather,” said Lamarche.
The fireworks display is expected to begin at 10:30 p.m.
(PHOTO: Event sponsors and organizers Andrew Autio/TimminsToday)
