A look back at Canada Day fireworks in Calgary

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A massed band, elaborate navy parade, free ice cream and — in fact — fireworks: these had been all important parts of Calgary’s largest July 1 celebrations 99 years in the past.

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A petition is now circulating asking town to reverse that call. In any case, July 1 celebrations — often with fireworks — have a protracted historical past in Canada, first occurring in 1868 — the 12 months after Confederation. The Governor Basic of Canada on the time, Charles Monck, proclaimed that since July 1, 1868, marked the primary anniversary of Confederation, it was a day value celebrating. A couple of years later, in 1879, Ottawa handed a regulation that made July 1 a statutory vacation. Through the years, the vacation turned referred to as Dominion Day; it was formally modified to Canada Day attributable to laws handed in October 1982.

Alongside the best way, the federal authorities started organizing official Canada Day celebrations, which grew into greater and greater occasions on Parliament Hill within the Fifties. 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 began within the Eighties, most cities and cities had been already internet hosting their very own July 1 actions, many which included fireworks.

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In Calgary, 1924 was the 12 months when July 1 celebrations escalated. A Calgary Herald article on June 27, 1924, famous metropolis officers, the native navy, service teams and group organizations had been set to stage “the largest Dominion Day celebration within the historical past of town.” An elaborate navy parade, flag unfurling, 5,000 singing college kids and 5 massed bands had been to begin the day at Mewata Park. The afternoon included a picnic, band live performance, sports activities program, and free peanuts and ice cream for six,000 at St. George’s Island Park. Within the night, bonfires, a public dance and “grand fireworks” would take centre stage.

The deliberate fireworks had been getting important consideration, as organizers stated this is able to be the biggest fireworks show ever seen in Calgary. The present would come with 100 rockets and 100 bombs, exploding about 1,000 toes within the air and scattering gold and silver stars within the sky. Two skilled ex-service artillerymen had been in command of setting off the fireworks.

The July 1, 1924 social gathering was declared successful, with about half of all Calgarians taking in a few of the day’s occasions. As for the fireworks? The Calgary Herald stated, “It was undoubtedly one of the best show ever witnessed in Calgary,” whereas The Albertan declared, “The show of fireworks was a ravishing one, and one which surpasses something that was ever seen on this metropolis earlier than.”

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Associated: 9 finest Canada Day fireworks shows in Calgary over time