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Chamber gearing up for Canada Day

More than 5,000 people attended last year’s parade and celebration

By Claire Piech

This weekend it will be time to dress in red and white and celebrate 140 years of maple leafs, hockey, and beavers.

And if you are in Whistler this Canada Day, July 1, the best place to flaunt your national pride is at the annual Canada Day Parade.

Last year, more than 5,000 people attended the event that marks Canada’s birth as a country.

The parade will start at noon on Sunday, July 1 st and wind throughout the village.

The theme for the parade this year is “Whistler in Action – Celebrating Tourism, Sports, and the Arts.”

Floats will be judged on best commercial entry, best community entry, most eco-friendly float, most creative/original float, and best team effort/involvement float.

The prize for the best commercial entry is $500 plus a one-year free Chamber of Commerce membership. The prize for the winning community float is a $500 plus $250 to spend at the Grocery Store on future fundraising events.

Set up for float entries will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Parking Lot 5.

Pique Newsmagazine will also be hosting the Pedal Parade, where kids and adults can join the parade on their bikes. Prizes will be awarded to the best decorated bikes.

The parade will be followed with more celebrations at the Town Plaza Gazebo at 1:15 p.m.

Mayor Ken Melamed will launch the Canada Day ceremony, followed by local musician Ali Milner singing the national anthem and a performance by the Delta Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Kids can get their face painted during the ceremony or get their picture taken with RCMP Sergeant Dave Smith on horseback.

Delish Catering will also be donating a Canada Day birthday cake to the event.

Be advised that Blackcomb Way and Gateway Boulevard will be closed from noon to 12:45 p.m. on July 1 st , and there may be other holdups in the village throughout the day due to the celebrations.

Whistler Chamber of Commerce is organizing the parade, with funding from the Resort Municipality of Whistler and Heritage Canada.

The chamber is looking for volunteers to help out with the parade. For more information, go to www.whistlerchamber.com or call Jaime at 604-932-5922.