Plenty of people of all ages celebrated Canada Day in White Rock on Monday, July 1, packing the waterfront promenade, Memorial Park and West Beach to enjoy Canada Day by the Bay festivities. Wearing red, white and maple leaves all over, many proud residents were waving the Canadian flag proudly as they gathered to take part, with it also featured on headbands, earrings, shirts, hats and more. Vendor booths lined the promenade as far as the eye could see, featuring colourful gazebos and wares ranging from soaps to jams and jellies, clothing, wind chimes, handmade wood cutting and cribbage boards, and much more.
With a noon start, the free, family-friendly event had already attracted hundreds of people before it started, with the smells of food truck offerings wafting through Memorial Park and beyond, from mini doughnuts and hot dogs to popcorn, from pizza and rolled gelato to the free popsicles Thrifty Foods was handing out for free. White Rock Mayor Megan Knight and other dignitaries spoke to officially open the event, including Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford and South Surrey-White Rock MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay. "I'm just happy to b here with you all today – I love this country, I love this community!" Findlay said.
"We are in the best place in the whole country are we not? Isn't it beautiful here?" The gathered crowd agreed raucously, cheering and applauding with noisy appreciation. Knight invited anyone who wished to reaffirm their Canadian citizenship to repeat the O.
