Tantramar marked Canada Day Tuesday as people gathered at Bill Johnstone Memorial Park and at Dorchester’s Veterans’ Community Centre for the municipality’s annual celebrations.
Before the festivities got underway, Tantramar’s summer events intern Emma Dukas said organizers wanted to create an event with something for everyone.
“There is going to be so much going on for Canada Day,” Dukas said. “We have cake that’s being handed out by our councillors. We have a barbecue that’s being hosted by Shinerama, bouncy castle, tattoos, scavenger hunt, live music . . . everything that you could want is going to be here.”
This year’s celebration also included the addition of an adaptive bicycle as organizers continued efforts to make municipal events more inclusive.
The day also included a community 5K walk/run, where Bagtown Brewing Company owner Anthony Maddalena finished first.
“I love Canada Day for getting out in the community and having these community events that the municipality puts on,” Maddalena said. “It’s a good time to get out with friends and see your neighbours and just enjoy.”
As runners cleared the course, activity shifted back toward Bill Johnstone Memorial Park. Children lined up for face painting and inflatable games while others found a place in the shade to watch live entertainment or stopped to chat with friends.
Mount Allison student Jenna Auguszynski said the atmosphere was one of the day’s highlights.
“It was very community,” she said. “Lots of people around, lots of people talking to each other, lots of people greeting each other, and the food was really good.”
For Meg Leonard, who attended with her daughter Emmy, the celebration was also a chance to reconnect with familiar faces.
“I love this. I love that we can have these events,” Leonard said. “I feel like this is almost like a nostalgic kind of community coming together. We’ve seen people from her daycare that we know. I’ve seen people from work that I know, and it’s just lovely feeling like you have an actual community where kids are safe to play. It’s just really wonderful.”
Dukas said those moments of connection were exactly what organizers hoped the celebration would create.
“Tantramar is very connected. Everyone knows everyone, so I think it’s really important to get events like this where everyone can come and enjoy and see all the people they know, the people they grew up with, or even newer citizens to town,” she said. “It’s really important to get everyone together.”
Later in the day, Dorchester held a series of Canada Day events, including live music, family activities and a community barbecue.
