Plans are in place to celebrate Canada Day with a bang.
While the annual fireworks display at the Snake Hill ball diamonds at dusk will again be part of the day’s events, a new feature this year will be live demonstrations of cannon and musket fire using quarter or half rounds of black powder, minus projectiles of course, at the Sundre and District Museum’s Pioneer Village.
“We hope to, maybe every half an hour, have a cannon shooting over the Greenwood Campground,” said William Davies, interim museum director, adding the municipality has approved relaxing the noise bylaw for the occasion and that campers have been notified.
“We wanted something with historic value…it’ll be something to see,” said Davies.
The cannons will be located on the pioneer village grounds’ southeast corner, pointing towards the river away from downtown, he said.
“It’ll be a special treat for kids who have never seen a cannon,” he said, adding with a chuckle, “We hope no one’s sitting in the porta-potty when the cannon goes off!”
A bagpiper will join members of the Sundre Royal Canadian Legion Branch #223 as well as RCMP for a procession to the pioneer village from the museum’s main doors in the lead-up to the approximately 11 a.m. flag raising and singing of O Canada by Jen Day, he said.
“Everybody will be dressed to the nines,” he said about the procession.
The plan is to regularly have the cannon and musket demonstrations, which were facilitated courtesy of David Borys, a familiar face at the museum who has on numerous previous occasions fired up the blacksmith’s forge.
“It was all his idea,” said Davies, adding the group of historical re-enactors has appeared in parades and that their participation in Sundre’s Canada Day celebration was made possible in part by federal funding from a Heritage Canada grant.
The demonstrations will be performed by the Cannoneers, a group of six people who have been providing 18th century artillery demonstrations while donning 1812 uniforms in Alberta since 2008. Their primary depiction is of the Royal Artillery from the years 1740-1763, with a focus on the Jacobite Uprising and the Seven Years War.
"Our Cannon is a replica short field three-pound gun, also known as a galloper gun, or affectionately as a 'Maggie'," reads an email submitted by the group.
"Our aim is to bring you close to the action, give you a bit of history, and great memories."
Additionally, car enthusiasts will have an opportunity to peruse a variety of vehicles ranging from vintage classics to more modern models at the pioneer village grounds , he said.
Three food truck vendors parked on the south side of the Sundre Elks Hall will offer several options to satiate people’s thirst and hunger while the museum will not be making a concession available to avoid competing with them, he said.
There is no charge to access the pioneer village grounds, but Davies said admission into the museum as well as the World of Wildlife will cost $5, although children aged six and under enter free. However, the museum donated 200 free passes to car show organizers, and people who register a vehicle will be extended one free adult admission to the museum, he said, adding their guests would still need to cover their fee.
Starting at noon, a beer garden will be available at the Sundre Elks Hall’s parking lot until 4 p.m., he said.
And to ensure a family-friendly and safe, responsible day free of potential shenanigans, Davies said volunteers donning yellow vests will offer security to keep an eye on the museum’s artifacts and historic buildings.
Preparing plans for Canada Day was a cooperative community effort that involved a committee in partnership with the Town of Sundre, he said.
“Lots of people have done a lot of work.”
Barb Rock, Sundre’s community services assistant, said Ride for Dad volunteers will be providing a free breakfast for people participating in the car show, and that funds raised from registrations will benefit the Sundre and District Historical Society.
The gates at the pioneer village grounds are set to open at 10 a.m., with a cake ceremony planned for 2 p.m. followed by car show awards at around 3 p.m. Before the gates are closed at 5 p.m., the cars will cruise out around 4 p.m., said Rock.
Additional activities throughout the day includes gregT, a multi-talented magician-mentalist-impersonator, as well as some balloon twisting by Miss LuLu’s Entertainment, said Rock, adding two Gulf Island sailing trip students were also hired to offer water-based Canada Day and Town of Sundre tattoos.
“The day should be a lot of fun,” said Davies, who was among those involved in the organizing committee.
“It has been a lot of fun working with these people and we are very excited to see the event grow from last year’s success,” said Rock.
