Killarney Guide

BY KIM LANGEN

Music, fireworks, fast cars – and even a few ladies sporting bloomers – will be part of this year’s Canada Day celebration.

And although health regulations will all be followed, the events planned should still bring a smile to people’s faces, say organizers.

“People need this,” said Wendy Giesbrecht, facility manager at the Shamrock Centre. “We are still going to celebrate the day. We still live in a great country, and we are going to celebrate it.”

And one of the ways is a brand new event, the ‘Show Us Your Bloomers’ contest, she said.

“It’s a new idea, and a way to show off your beautiful plants and flowers,” said Giesbrecht. “We will have long tables set up in the Shamrock parking lot, so people can drive along, or walk along, socially distanced, to see the displays. It will be a kind of floral boulevard. We think that you will be able to view the entries from around 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s free to enter, and there will be prizes too.”

There are three floral categories to enter, which include a live floral arrangement, an artificial arrangement, and a houseplant, plus three age categories: for those under 12, age 12 to 19, and age 20 and older.

“People have gone crazy with house plants and growing things since COVID began,” said Giesbrecht. “We are hoping for lots of entries. We are asking everyone to have their entry in to the Shamrock Centre by 10 a.m. on Canada Day, Thursday, July 1.”

Wenda Anderson, coordinator for Services for Seniors, came up with the floral contest idea after hearing about it taking off in another community.

“Another senior coordinator, in Thompson, had the idea,” said Anderson. “I asked her if we could borrow it, and she agreed, and we also came up with a different name, ‘Show Us Your Bloomers,’ because we thought it was quite catchy. And yes, we might be wearing bloomers. Joanne Braun, who runs a costume rental in town, had a pair, and she is going to make a few more pairs for us.”

Judging is at 11 a.m., and when the event is over, people can either take their entries back home with them, or alternatively they can forward them onwards to support a lovely cause.

“People can pick up their entries at 1 p.m., or they can donate them to a senior in the community,” said Giesbrecht. “Wenda Anderson will deliver them to seniors’ homes in the town.”

To enter the Show Us Your Bloomers competition, you can call ahead to the Shamrock Centre (204-523-8920) to reserve a table space, or you can just turn up on the day (before 10 a.m.) to exhibit your flowers.

“If people call ahead, it gives us an idea for the space needed,” said Giesbrecht. “We have a lot of long tables, so we can make as much space in the big parking lot as we want.”

But judging of colourful blooms is not the only Canada Day event planned.

At 11:30 a.m. the 2nd Annual Scavenger Hunt revs up at the Shamrock Centre. 

“It will be the same as last year, with just household members in each car, to follow COVID regulations,” said Giesbrecht. “There will be around a dozen clues, and there will be prizes. And it’s free to enter. We meet at the Shamrock Centre, and start from there.”

Live music will be on offer from 2 to 4 p.m. over at the Ag Grounds. The mellifluous Lyle Baldwin will be performing his music on the old curling rink lot (next to the Heritage Home for the Arts), said Wenda Anderson.

“There’s lots of surface area there, so people can attend either in their cars, or on their scooters,” she said. “But to comply with Public Health, people have to stay in their cars, or on their scooters. They can’t get out and mingle.”

And finally, over at the Ag Grounds, at around 11 p.m, Grant Wiesner will seize the microphone as darkness falls to sing O Canada. The Canada Day fireworks are scheduled to shoot off following this performance, marking the end of another national birthday party.

“We have to control the gates, both coming in and going out, and people must stay in their vehicles,” said Giesbrecht. “The ag ground gates will open at 10 p.m. for guided parking. Grant will be singing the national anthem; he did it last year, and it was fantastic.”

All Public Health guidelines will be followed during the Canada Day celebrations, she added.

A CHANCE TO SHOW OFF SOME BLOOMS – Wenda Anderson, pictured with a lovely tea-cup planter, hopes that lots of people, and especially the kids, take part in the upcoming Show Us Your Bloomers flower competition on Canada Day. The blooms (along with some saucy vintage bloomers – if you remember what they are!) will be on show in the Shamrock Centre parking lot from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on July 1. See the full schedule of events below.