Brooke McPhee knows exactly why she’s celebrating Canada Day.
“Because we live in Canada and it’s important to us,” the 10-year old, visiting from Muskoka, Ont., said on Wednesday while her family spent the afternoon at Fort William Historical Park eagerly awaiting the arrival of the annual Canada Day cake.
Nine-year-old Leo Bourque said thinks the July 1 holiday is fantastic.
“I really love Canada Day because we can all have fun and I can spend a lot of time with my family,” he said, after trying his luck in a traditional log-sawing contest.
“I think it’s important to celebrate Canada because not many countries are free like us.”
Earlier six-year-old Shevaun Wilson said she was having a blast, getting her face painted with a red and white butterfly, a perfect accessory to go with her fancy Canadian-flag sunglasses.
“Canada is the best place,” she said.
Her father, Dan Wilson, said it’s become an annual tradition to bring the family to the Fort, where activities include local musicians, barnyard animals and the Kaminisitiquia River grand arrival of the Historical Park’s dignitaries.
It’s all about teaching his children the culture of their country, he said.
“We come here every year, pretty much every Canada Day. It’s become a bit of a family tradition.”
“We like to go on family trips every year at this time of year and just find different places to celebrate Canada Day,” said Andrews, a graduate of Lakehead University.
“I figured they’d have a great Canada Day celebration and they’d learn a lot about the background and culture that they don’t really have an understanding of. That’s why we’re here.”
Ryan McKeown brought his three children to the festivities, and like most others, said it’s become the annual way to spend Canada Day afternoon.
“Our children love coming out and doing the canoeing, the crafts and the face painting. We get a little something to eat, see the animals and just really enjoy it,” he said.
McKeown added it’s important to teach children while they’re young about their heritage.
“We like to instill that so the children understand the sacrifices Canada went through to get here and the privilege of the freedoms that we have. And it’s just to get out and enjoy the day.”
Debbie McRae, FWHP’s manager of marketing and visiting experience, said the cultural tie-in between the Fort and the country’s annual birthday party is a natural one.
“We love Canada Day and we’re all about Canadian pride,” she said. “Really, the fur trade was the beginning of Canada, so that is who and what we are.”
The park is open until 5 p.m.
