INNISFAIL – The town’s Canada Day Organizing Committee has finalized activity plans for the July 1 national holiday.
While the COVID-19 pandemic still forces the town to back away from big gatherings, such as in recent years at Centennial Park, the committee has come up with an interesting and creative alternative plan of five approved Canada Day activities for Innisfailians to participate in.
Kane Williams, the town’s recreation program coordinator and representative on the seven-member committee (CDOC), said the town’s planned activities, including ones that are in partnership, will be held on Thursday, July 1, with at least one spilling into the weekend.
“This is what we have. There might be some fine-tuning on how it is going to go, maybe a location or two,” said Williams. “These are going to be the five offerings that we have for Canada Day.”
Before July 1, however, the fireworks display will go on as usual after dusk by the arena on June 30.
Williams said the first activity is the Decorating Challenge, a chance for Innisfailians to ramp up their creativity to show national pride. Williams said the town is encouraging homeowners, businesses and anyone else who has a window to put up a display and make it creative with unique Innisfail touches.
The second activity is a Canada Day Scavenger Hunt, which starts on Canada Day and continues into the weekend. This activity will be played out through a free downloadable app called Goose Chase, which is available for Android and on iOS. Williams said there will be about 25 different clues for participants, who can play solo or with family members or a group of friends.
He said the idea is for someone to sign into the app and the challenges will be sent to the participant, which could be clues to finding local places, or a challenge to be a participant to take a video of him or her singing the national anthem, or doing an impression of a famous Canadian actor.
“There are 25 of these built into this app and each one will have a point value,” said Williams, noting the big prize for the winner of the hunt. He or she, or a group will win a Summer Blizzard Pass - four free Dairy Queen Blizzards a week from July 5 to Sept. 6.
The third activity is the Canada Day Cruise. All roadworthy vehicles are welcomed, including classic and sports cars. Innisfailians are invited to meet at 10 a.m. at a yet to be confirmed site and leave at about 10:30 a.m. for a cruise around town.
“There is going to be a parade around Innisfail and one of the big things we want to do is hit a lot of seniors residences, especially the ones that have been the most isolated,” said Williams, adding visit destinations will include group home settings and assisted living facilities.
“We want them to reach out to us so we can take this cruise right past their front door. We can designate a time so they can know it is happening at this point in time,” he added. “We have seen so many people that have been so isolated through this pandemic this is one of those we want to make sure you that, ‘you know what? We are coming right to where you guys are at.'”
The fourth offering is the traditional Canada Day appearance of food trucks that will have a superb selection of ribbon fries, corn dogs, mini-donuts, ice cream, slushies and lemonade. Williams said they will be parked at the Innisfail Aquatic Centre ball diamonds from noon until 5 p.m. on July 1.
And number five is at the Innisfail and District Historical Village, which will be open with free admission from 1 to 4 p.m. - with one designated entrance and exit - to offer crafts, photo opportunities, displays and demonstrations. Williams said the store will be open and staff and volunteers will be dressed in period costumes.
And there will be something special for the kids. Each child attending the historical village will be receiving an award, a token of appreciation for being a good boy or girl – showing good citizenship – during the pandemic.
“This is for any child that comes down to the village,” said Williams.
For more information, go to the Canada Day page on the Town of Innisfail website at www.innisfail.ca/canada-day-2021
