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A joint band, elaborate navy parade, free ice cream and — after all — fireworks: these had been all important parts of Calgary’s largest July 1st celebrations 99 years in the past.
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A petition is now underway asking town to reverse that call. In any case, July 1st celebrations – normally with fireworks – have a protracted historical past in Canada, first going down in 1868 – the 12 months after Confederation. The then Governor Normal of Canada, Charles Monck, declared that since July 1, 1868, the primary anniversary of Confederation, it was a day value celebrating. A couple of years later, in 1879, Ottawa handed a legislation making July 1 a statutory vacation. Through the years, the vacation grew to become often called Dominion Day; it was formally modified to Canada Day on account of laws handed in October 1982.
Alongside the way in which, the federal authorities started organizing official Canada Day celebrations, which within the Nineteen Fifties grew into bigger and bigger occasions on Parliament Hill. Within the Eighties, Ottawa fashioned a nationwide committee to work with communities throughout the nation to encourage them to host native celebrations. Whereas federal funding for such occasions started within the Eighties, most cities and cities already hosted their very own July 1st actions, many who included fireworks.
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In Calgary, 1924 was the 12 months July 1st celebrations ramped up. A Calgary Herald article on June 27, 1924 famous that metropolis officers, the native navy, service teams and neighborhood organizations would maintain “the most important Dominion Day celebration within the historical past of town.” An elaborate navy parade, flag unfurling, 5,000 singing college kids and 5 mass bands would begin the day at Mewata Park. The afternoon featured a picnic, band live performance, sports activities program and free peanuts and ice cream for six,000 at St. George’s Island Park included. Within the night bonfires, a public dance and “massive fireworks” would take heart stage.
The deliberate fireworks have acquired lots of consideration, as organizers have mentioned it will likely be the most important fireworks show ever seen in Calgary. The present will embody 100 rockets and 100 bombs, exploding about 1,000 ft into the air and scattering gold and silver stars into the sky. Two skilled ex-artillerists had been answerable for firing the fireworks.
The July 1, 1924 get together was declared successful, with about half of all Calgarians taking within the day’s occasions. As for the fireworks? The Calgary Herald mentioned, “It was undoubtedly one of the best show ever seen in Calgary,” whereas The Albertan declared, “The show of fireworks was a phenomenal one, and one which surpasses something that has ever been seen on this metropolis was seen.”
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Associated: 9 Greatest Canada Day Fireworks Exhibits in Calgary Over the Years
