Plans for a next year’s Canada Day festivities are already underway according to event chairman Chris Glassford.
“We’re looking at a fireworks display June 30th, and a full day of activities at Tecumseh Park on Canada Day,” he said.
Glassford, the owner of Glassford Productions, said he stepped forward because of a lack of activities this year. Mary Reaume, owner of the Bar Out Back, who will co-chair the event, has joined him.
“It’s great that (Chatham-Kent-Essex MP) Dave VanKestern was able to put something together at the last minute but I think a community wide effort to complement that is doable,” he said.
So far the group has held one meeting and has more than 100 members on its Facebook site.
https://www.facebook.com/ChathamCanadaDay/
“There’s a lot of enthusiasm,” he said. “We want to build a strong committee that is always looking at least two years ahead. We want this to be sustainable.”
Glassford said fireworks won’t be held in Tecumseh Park for a variety of reasons.
“Given the fact that the park and part of the neighbourhood is heavily treed and the area itself is small, we think someplace more open is much better for viewing and safety,” he said. “The fireworks companies we’ve spoken to agree.”
He said freeing the park so it can be used July 1 makes sense from a logistics viewpoint as well.
“We want to have all kinds of vendors, a beer tent and live entertainment so it makes sense for them to be able to set up as much as possible ahead of time.”
Glassford said he wants the day’s celebration to reflect Canada’s values as a nation.
“We want to be inclusive, we want everyone to come and we want everyone to have a good time,” he said. “What could be more Canadian than that?”
He said the committee will meet again later this month but a firm date hasn’t been set.
The committee is looking for volunteers.
Anyone interested in helping can message the group through its Facebook site or by emailing ckcanadaday@hotmail.com.
The college yard is a great spot if you can get it approved.