All the things needed for a Canada Day party will be in place Monday, July 1 in St. Albert. From frosted cake to face painting to fireworks, Canada’s 146th birthday will be celebrated with patriotic fervour thanks to a $40,000 budget that includes a direct contribution of $20,000 from the City of St. Albert, a Canadian Heritage Grant and contributions from St. Albert community groups and businesses.
St. Albert Transit will offer free park-and-ride from 10:15 a.m. until 11:30 p.m., after the last firecracker has blasted into the sky from Mission Hill. To catch the free park-and-ride bus, park at St. Albert Centre for a ride to the various venues such as Lions Park, the Grain Elevator Park, the Little White School House and St. Albert Botanic Park. Limited parking is available at the back of Grandin Park Plaza and there are a few handicapped-only parking spots available at Lions Park.
Don’t forget to bring a donation to the St. Albert Food Bank if you are able. And bring a camera because St. Albert’s McBain Camera is sponsoring a photo contest with separate categories for children, youth and adults. The photos must feature St. Albert Canada Day events.
Lions/Millennium Park activities 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Canada Day cake will be cut at noon and O Canada will be sung.
• Cruisin’ Clubhouse: sponsored by the Elks, will provide games and activities for children.
• Art Trail: five artists will be showing and selling their art in the park
• St. Albert Ball Hockey will host an ongoing street hockey game in the parking lot. Hockey sticks provided.
• Members of St. Albert Bike Association will demonstrate cycling skills.
• Pedalheads – kids 12 and under are invited to bring their bikes and helmets.
• Four horse-drawn wagons will complete the circuit from Lions Park to Sir Winston Churchill Avenue and St. Thomas Street.
• Flight simulator sponsored by the Air Cadets. Try out your flying skills.
• Displays by St. Albert public works, fire services and RCMP. Get a lift in the cherry picker bucket.
• Throughout the day Innovations Music students and the St. Albert Community Band will provide entertainment.
• A petting zoo sponsored by Realty Executives is back for the first time since 2008.
• Saint City Rotary Club is sponsoring a bouncy castle.
• Spirit of St. Albert will provide carnival games.
St Albert Place plaza 3:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
•Youth Music Show: Previously known as the Battle of the Bands, the Youth Music Show features a variety of youth bands. The Youth Band performances finish at 6:30 p.m.
•An inflatable obstacle course and fun-photo booth will also be set up in front of city hall.
•Family Street Dance takes place 7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Dance music provided by local bands as well as by a DJ. A special Kid’s Zone will be on site along with food vendors.
Seven Hills 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and 11 p.m.
•Father Lacombe Chapel will have homemade ice cream, historical tours and children’s activities until 4 p.m.
•Little White School House tours and games on the hill until 4 p.m.
•Fireworks 11 p.m. by Thunder F/X are scheduled to blast off at dusk, and will last approximately 15 minutes.
St. Albert Grain Elevator Park (4 Meadowview Drive) 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
•Dominion Day at the St. Albert Grain Elevator: Visit the 1920s replica Train Station where you can try your hand at Morse code and tour the grain elevators. Entertainers and food vendors will be on site and there will be games and activities for children.
St. Albert Botanic Park (165 Sturgeon Road) 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• Take time to smell the roses as you sample strawberries, cake and ice cream served on a donation basis. Children’s activities available throughout the afternoon.
Woodlands Water Play Park (265 Sturgeon Road) 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
•A bouncy castle will be on site and there will be face painting and food vendors.
Kingswood Day-Use Park (385 Sturgeon Road) Noon – 4 p.m.
• Longboard competition: St. Albert’s Building Assets Memory Youth Group organized this event that includes a race down Woodlands Drive hill and a push-race that runs from the Trestle Bridge to Kingswood Park. Registration forms are online at www.stalbert.ca and at Beaudry Place (RCMP Building).
Grosvenor Pool (5 Grenfell Ave.) Noon – 2 p.m.
• Water and land games will be provided and hot dogs will be available for sale.
Ecole La Mission (46 Heritage Drive) 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
•Heritage Lakes Pancake Breakfast: Hosted by the Heritage Lakes Community Association this event features great food and games for kids, including a bouncy thing. Cost is $3 if you bring your own plate and cutlery and $4 if you don’t.
