Canada Day in South Frontenac

Canada Day celebrations are cornerstone festivities in South Frontenac and are some of the highest attended events in our community. Due to COVID-19, events have not taken place since 2019 and a lot has changed since then. Planning committees have dissolved, been created, leadership has been shifted and shuffled, we've had community members move or retire.

In 2021, the unmarked graves of over 1000 Indigenous Peoples who lost their lives in residential schools were discovered across Canada. It is expected this number will continue to grow as more residential school sites are examined in the coming years. This prompted nation-wide calls to reassess Canada Day events.

One of the largest elements of the Canada Day events are the fireworks. The pandemic has greatly affected this industry resulting in staffing shortages, supply chain issues, and a minimum 10% increase of cost to host firework shows. Recently, the cost-benefit of fireworks and their environmental impact have also been called into question.

These factors combined have prompted South Frontenac Recreation & Leisure staff to converse with the community regarding Canada Day events and how to proceed with future celebrations. Please take the time to provide your thoughts and ideas on this event and help shape the future of Canada Day in South Frontenac.

Here is a brief summary of the traditional Canada Day events in South Frontenac for your consideration as you craft your feedback:

Bedford - Hosted by the Bedford Recreation Committee (dissolved) at Glendower Hall, this event featured a free pancake breakfast and live music.

Harrowsmith - Hosted by the Harrowsmith S&A Club at Centennial Park, this event featured kids activities, a canteen, vendors, music, and fireworks show.

Sydenham - Hosted by the Sydenham Canada Day Committee at The Point Park, this event featured kids activities, a canteen, vendors, music and fireworks show.

Sunbury - Hosted by the Storrington Recreation Committee (dissolved) at Gerald Ball Memorial Park, this event featured kids activities, live music, a canteen, sport tournaments and fireworks show.