July 1 2010: Canada Day in Port Credit (Mississauga, Ontario) is a double celebration: Canada marks 143 years, and Port Credit marks 175! Yay, Us!!
Port Credit celebrated with a parade, a pancake breakfast, Heritage Mississauga displays, and lots of Canada Flags in a sea of red and white. And tonight there will be fireworks! (For all Mississauga fireworks, see http://snapshot-travel-blog.blogspot.com/2010/06/mississauga-canada-day-fireworks-events.html.
Here are some pictures of the Canada Day Events from earlier today.
Port Credit Canada Day Parade Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Representatives from various levels of government, and Port Credit committees started off the parade with a ribbon cutting ceremony. [Disclosure: I was one of five parade judges, and so these pictures were taken 'on the fly'.]
Therapy Dogs Lead the Way ~ Mississauga Canada Day Parade
St John Ambulance therapy dogs were among the first to parade down Lakeshore Road at Stavebank.
First Place ~ Port Credit Parade ~ Canada Day 2010
The giant birthday cake was an invitation to the cutting (and eating) of the Port Credit Canada Day birthday cake at the end of the parade. It also took first place ~ large floats.
Second Place Float PCYC ~ Port Credit Yacht Club ~ Team Courage
Team Courage float for the Port Credit Yacht Club won second place. Floats were judged on Canadian content, originality and overall impression.
Third Place ~ Food Bank ~ Port Credit 175 Parade
Colorfully decorated in red and white streamers, these grocery carts garnered third place: What is more Canadian than Food Banks? The sobering impact of a shopping cart -- homeless or Land of Plenty.
Toronto Signals Band ~ Canada Day 2010 Parade Mississauga
One of the marching bands in the Canada Day parade was the Toronto Signals Band. The band has been in continuous operation since 1926 and is the duty band for 709 Toronto Communications Regiment at Fort York Armory. 
Antique Fire Truck Port Credit Ontario
This old fire truck was one of many classic cars and trucks that joined the parade, and the Shriners mini motorcycles, as always, were a crowd-pleaser.
Pancake Breakfast Port Credit Memorial Park
A pioneer style breakfast of sausages, beans and pancakes started the day right for early parade watchers and the many volunteers who arrived before 8 a.m. to set up for the festivities.
Heritage Mississauga Display ~ Early Port Credit Photos
Heritage Mississauga sets up displays at many Mississauga events, and it's always worth a look. They do a wonderful job of acquiring and preserving photos of early Mississauga villages and communities..So far, Canada Day in Mississauga, and especially here in Port Credit, has been a lot of fun! And it's still going on, with live music, vendors, buskers and more. The fun goes on until the fireworks are finished lighting the night sky over Memorial Park, so come on down!
Hundreds of volunteers on a number of community groups have been working (and continue to work) to celebrate Port Credit's 175 birthday! Here are some of the great groups hosting events in the 'Village on the Lake':
- Paint the Town Red
- PC175
- Port Credit BIA
- Mississauga Waterfront Festival
- Port Credit Buskerfest
- South Side Shuffle
Now to get back to the Canada Day fun at Memorial Park!
See previous post for fireworks times and locations. In Port Credit, they are supposed to start at 10:15 p.m. but I'll get there early.
