This Canada Day, Sunday, July 1, the various Cowichan Lake communities will each be hosting events, all of which are open to the general public, and free to attend.
The town of Lake Cowichan will be hosting its events in Saywell Park. The celebrations will begin at 1 p.m., and Mayor Ross Forrest and members of council will be on hand to cut cake, sing the national anthem, and enjoy the talent of local musicians.
Mary Egan, Tanya Gillispie, and Naomi Payton will be performing along with this year’s Lake Cowichan Idol winner Sara Ferguson, and last year’s winner Lindsay Elzinga. Sidney Fothergill and Logan Wallace will also have audiences tapping their feet.
For information about the Honeymoon Bay Days celebrations happening all weekend, starting Friday evening, see page 12.
Youbou will begin their celebration at 10 a.m. with a free breakfast at the Youbou New Hope Community Church.
Arbutus Park will open at 11 a.m., and Pastor Vikki Marrs says there will be free chips and pop for the kids as well as volleyball and other games to enjoy.
If the weather does not cooperate, activities will move indoors to the church where there will be music, and games upstairs for the kids.
Mesachie Lake has timed their Canada Day celebrations for later in the day in the hopes that this will allow visitors and community members to enjoy all of the activities happening around the lake.
John Cummings, organizer for the event, will be emcee for an evening of activities starting at 5 p.m. with a singing of the national anthem and welcome speeches by local politicians.
Celebrations will take place at the Mesachie Lake Skydome and in the hall. There will be a DJ playing top 40 tunes while kids and adults enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, kids games, highland dancers, and even a Zumba demonstration.
Depending on the weather, the Mesachie Lake firefighters might even stop by with the departments pumper truck to soak down the kids.
This year organizers have two birthday cakes for all to enjoy, and Cummings says there will be a full concession. The festivities will wind up around 9 p.m.
