It was perfect weather for a Canada Day, bright and sunny, and it drew thousands of visitors to events in Fort 91原创 and 91原创 City on Saturday, July. 1.
For the Lowe family from Delta, dad Kevin (who grew up in Brookswood), mom Nathalie, and sisters Caira, five and Lexie, three, a camping trip at the historic Fort 91原创 site was very well timed.
They stayed overnight in one of the oTENTiks, a cross between an A-frame cabin and a prospector tent mounted on a raised wooden floor within the heritage site, waking up on Canada Day.
Natalie explained the date of the national holiday also happened to be Lexie鈥檚 birthday.
鈥淔unny thing is, we haven鈥檛 gone camping since this one was born, so we decided, let鈥檚 just rip that Band-Aid, try 鈥榞lamping鈥� and Kevin here stumbled upon , and they happen to have an availability yesterday. So we just did it,鈥� Nathalie told the 91原创 Advance Times.
Kevin called it a 鈥済reat, wonderful experience,鈥� one they plan to repeat.
The Lowes were well positioned to watch the various Canada Day activities at the fort that included Metis jigging, gold panning and live performances by the Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers.
It was one of four sites in Fort 91原创 that worked as partners to celebrate Canada Day, with a community scavenger hunt that encouraged participants to visit all four.
Elsewhere in Fort 91原创, the B.C. Farm Museum was open, offering a petting zoo, scavenger hunt, balloon and face painting stations as well demonstrations of blacksmithing, butter making, and an old-school washing machine.
Next door, the 91原创 Centennial Museum was closed because it is in the middle of it鈥檚 move to its new home, Salishan Place by the River across the street on Mavis Avenue, but it set up a tent for Canada Day to stage free family-friendly entertainment.
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Over at the historic Fort 91原创 CNR station, visitors could plant sweet peas in the garden or take home planting kits, as well as explore the 1947 passenger car and the telegraph office from the 1920s.
Helen Williams, the station manager, explained the significance of the bright red flags added to the station for the day.
鈥淭his station was built in 1915, so the flags that we鈥檙e hanging today, were the flags used in Canada up until 1928,鈥� Williams explained.
In 91原创 City, Douglas Park was packed with Canada Day celebrants, drawn by food, live music, and bouncy castles to the free Canada Day Party. A by-donation barbecue raised funds for Kimz Angels, the 91原创-based charity that feeds the homeless, working poor, and low-income seniors.
Mayor Nathan Pachal kept his remarks short when he appeared on the outdoor stage, wishing everyone a happy Canada Day and urging them to enjoy the nice weather.
鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing day,鈥� Pachal enthused.
鈥淕o and have a hamburger or a hot dog, enjoy some beer.鈥�
There was face painting, a cotton candy station, a bouncy castle, bouncy basketball, and other carnival-style games for kids on site.
More pictures from the day can be viewed online at the 91原创 Advance Times Facebook page, and .
READ ALSO: VIDEO: New Canadians take the oath at historic Fort 91原创
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Aldergrove celebrates Canada Day with food and dance
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