There was a lot of community pride on display on Saturday morning during the Seafest Parade, with top honours going to Prince Rupert’s Luso Portuguese Club.
The group’s tribute to 125 years of North Pacific Cannery included not only a covered cannery building, complete with workers wearing rain gear, towed by a brightly decorated truck, but also members of the club literally dancing in the street and bringing smiles to those along the route. It was good enough to take Best Overall Entry in the parade.
In the community category, the Cow Bay Association took top spot with a float that included “Melissa the Moomaid” waving from a canoe and a scale-model of Cow Bay created by the North Coast Artist’s Cooperative. The City of Prince Rupert’s float placed second while Ridley Terminals placed third.
The Best Theme Entry was Fisheries and Oceans Canada, whose float included cannery workers and a building sporting a “Happy 125” birthday wish to North Pacific Cannery. The DFO was followed by the Prince Rupert Port Authority and Overwaitea floats.
The Coast Tsimshian Academy of Lax Kw’alaams was named the Best Marching Band, followed by the Gitwinksihlkw Brass Band and the Prince Rupert Middle School Marching Band.
The Indo-Canadian Sikh Association was named the Best Dance Group, complete with traditional outfits, followed by the dancers of Spectrum City Dance. The Chinese Association dancers of the Rupert Square Shopping Centre placing third.
Glacier Toyota of Smithers was named the Best Out of Town Entry, followed by the steamwheeler of the City of Terrace and Terrace Pipes and Drums Society.
