Canada 150th Planning Committee Chair Don Matheson addressed the crowd at the open forum at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre October 19.

Hub Staff

Planning for Canada’s 150th birthday is well underway as was evident at the planning committee’s Open House at the Bruce County Museum, October 19. A weekend-long celebration taking place in both Southampton and Port Elgin will bring the community together to celebrate national heritage, while creating new traditions in a big way.

Hosted by Committee Chair Councillor Don Matheson and Vice-Chair Councillor Neil Menage, the Open Forum brought approximately 25 Saugeen Shores citizens from non-profit community groups, to town and Bruce County employees, to come together and see what kind of contribution they could make during the three-day celebration.

Past President of the Saugeen Shores Kin Club Brenda Maquire addressed the crowd during the open forum with a pretty big idea that the Kin Club will be taking on during the 150th birthday celebration.

Maquire said that the Kin Club will be purchasing a 25 by 50 foot Canada flag that will include a four foot boarder that the Saugeen Shores community can sign. It will travel to all Saugeen Shores schools, retirement and nursing homes and will be made available for a public signing.

“We would like to see the flag carried, Olympic torch style, by various community groups, young and old from Saugeen Shores; from the Port Elgin Beach to the flag pole in Southampton,” Maquire said. “Each group would be responsible for carrying the flag for a short distance and pass it on to the next group en route to the flag pole.”

She went on to say that she hopes that the flag will become a historical time capsule for the Saugeen Shores community and added that it can be flown every Canada day moving forward.

Member of the Marine Heritage Society (MHS) Stan Young said that the MHS would cancel trips to Chantry Island for that weekend and use the Peerless II to tour around Chantry Island. On Saturday, July 1 the Peerless would make berth in Southampton while on Sunday, July 2 the Peerless II will tour from Port Elgin.

Three-days of events have been planned so far and currently include beach parties, fireworks and old fashioned fun and games.

Friday, June 30 Southampton events:
- Heritage Tent opens
- Heritage displays
- Local Canadian musical & entertainment acts
- Licensed Heritage beer garden

Saturday, July 1 events:
- Giant Flag Parade from Port Elgin to Southampton
- Canada Day ceremonies and raising of giant flag (in Southampton)
- Heritage displays
- Canadian birthday cake
- Licensed Heritage beer garden
- Local Canadian music
- Fireworks display

Sunday, July 2 Port Elgin events:
- Port Elgin Dance Beach Party
- Inflatables on beach
- Musical entertainment
- Family picnic games on beach
- Beach barbecue dinner
- Licensed area

Anyone interested in adding to the festive Canadiana weekend is asked to contact the Saugeen Shores Canada 150th Planning Committee by e-mail at saugeenshores150@gmail.com or by phone at 226-930-0851. Find Saugeen Shores Celebrates Canada’s 150th on Facebook for updates to the weekend.

Any funds raised during the three days of events will go towards other community events in Saugeen Shores as well as legacy projects which including historical murals, gardens or clock time capsule; as well as new Canadian folk songs to be distributed to local schools.