Two-year-old Archer Spielman, sporting a red Canada T-shirt adorned with a maple leaf, danced in the street and jubilantly waved his miniature flag.
He was perhaps too young to fully recognize the significance of the celebration – the nation’s 145th birthday – but he aptly represented the spirit embodying the crowd gathered for Abbotsford’s Canada Day parade on Sunday morning.
Thousands lined the streets along South Fraser Way, displaying their national pride in all forms of red and white – from “Canada Eh!” T-shirts to headbands with maple leaf antennas.
The Prospera Credit Union parade, led by members of the Abbotsford Police Department, featured a circus theme. Mayor Bruce Banman was the ringmaster on a float that included youth dancers, followed by a brightly costumed kazoo band.
As part of the celebration, former Abbotsford councillor Ron Sweeney Sr. and founding Airshow Canada chairman Ron Price were named Citizens of the Year. Two recipients were named this year because of the high calibre of the candidates, said Banman.
Prior to the City of Abbotsford’s event, the community of Mt. Lehman held a smaller parade. Floats, some vintage cars, community groups, and kids on bicycles were among those travelling the route along Mt. Lehman Road.
Following the parade along South Fraser Way, the public was invited to a day-long celebration at Rotary Stadium which expanded on the circus theme.
Festivities there included main-stage entertainment, an international food fair, dog flyball demonstrations, community displays, roving circus performers and more.
The celebrations concluded with a fireworks display sponsored by the Calgary Flames, the parent organization of the Abbotsford Heat hockey team.
Check out the Abbotsford News' Facebook Canada Day Parade Album by clicking here. News readers are invited to post their favourite photos of Canada Day.