‘O’ Canada!’ Madawaska celebrates Canada Day

By Michael Riley

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Madawaska celebrated Canada Day at J.R. Booth Park on July 1. In addition to a barbecue with burgers and hot dogs, there were kids' activities, swimming and boating activities, live music from the Mad River Ramblers, and fireworks at dusk. Sharon Florent with the Madawaska Recreation Committee comments on this fun day.
Florent told Bancroft This Week that J.R. Booth Park has been a favoured project for their recreation committee for a few years and that every year they raised money and planned new additions to this family friendly park that's been a Madawaska staple for years.
“We are very pleased and proud of our park's transition and are happy to share it with all who stop in for a visit every summer. This year as always, our Canada Day festivities happen on July 1, and we'll be having Jim and Friends as our musicial guests this year. They will start their musical entertainment around 1 p.m. under our tent,” she says.
Florent says that Nicole Dupuis and her helpers will be assembling the bouncy castle in the morning for the kids to enjoy through the day near the playground. She said they also have some giveaways for the kids as they do every year. She also says they have a great little beach to swim at different depths, depending on a child's knowledge and comfort level.
“Our barbecue starts serving around 4 p.m. and runs to 6 p.m. We have beef or chicken burgers for $5, hot dogs for $2, and pop and/or water for $1. And don't forget our Canada Day cupcakes for dessert! At dusk, around 9:30 p.m. or so, we'll have our great fireworks display put on with expert help from a few members of the Madawaska Fire Station of the South Algonquin Fire Department,” she says.
On July 1 at J.R. Booth Park in Madawaska, everyone who attended had a terrific time, with all the activities, delicious barbecue and live music. Florent told Bancroft This Week that she thought it was another great Canada Day celebration in the books and she thinks everyone enjoyed the day.
“We were very thankful to see all the community members come out to lend their help with our set up this morning and our take down this evening. It always goes so much better with more helping hands. We had wonderful singing and musical entertainment from Jim and Friends this year as well. And it seemed that the younger crowd had a bunch of fun with our bouncy castle, face painting, gifts for the kids and of course our barbecue. It was also a perfect day to spend some time playing around in the water at the beach. The fireworks were spectacular, as usual, and a memorable end to our day,” she says. “It was a superb Canada Day!”