Saugeen Shores Kin Club members Dave Mensher and Janet Crampton display a section of the completed bottom border that will be reattached to the 25 by 50 foot giant commemorative Canadian flag. The flag will be flown on July 1 and 2 as part of Saugeen Shores Canada 150 celebrations.

Hub Staff

The first of two public signings for the giant commemorative Canadian flag, which will be paraded through Saugeen Shores before being raised as part of the Saugeen Shores Canada 150 celebrations, took place on Sunday, May 28.

In partnership with the Saugeen Shores Celebrates Canada 150 Committee, the Saugeen Shores Kin Club purchased the giant 25 by 50 foot flag, which has visited schools and council chambers, features a white signature border for people to sign and become part of Saugeen Shores history.

The signing took place at Nodwell Park where the Saugeen Shores Kin Club was hosting their first Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History event.

Saugeen Shores Kin Club's Dave Mensher said that the bottom border had already been completed with names of students from Northport Elementary School, École Port Elgin Saugeen Central School and St. Joseph's School. “It looks fantastic,” said Mensher. “We wanted to give the general public an opportunity to sign as well.”

Mensher said that the schools had started with the youngest students progressing through to the older grades. “So JKs all the way to Grade 8s and then you can see where the next school starts because there's a sudden line of JKs again. It worked out brilliant,” he said.

“This is the top border that we're going to have for the public and the remaining schools,” explained Mensher, who said the border would be going to G.C Huston Public School and Saugeen District Secondary School this week for students to sign.

The second public signing will take place at the Saugeen Shores Health & Wellness Fair at the Southampton Coliseum June 3.

The signature border will then make its way to Mississauga where the manufacturer will reattach it to the flag. “This is a fun project, we've enjoyed doing this. We're quite proud of it,” he said.

In all 83 people came out to add their signature to the commemorative flag which, at the close of the Canada 150 celebrations, will be put away, not to be pulled out again for 50 years.

Five year old Emma Mitchell, from Saugeen Shores, signs her name on the flag's signature border to become part of Saugeen Shores history.