Raymond hosts Canada Day parade

Southern Alberta Newspapers photo by Tim Kalinowski Why throw Canada when you can tag someone with a super soaker instead? The Raymond and District Girl Guides kept people on their toes during the Canada Day Parade on Monday.

Tim Kalinowski
Southern Alberta Newspapers

The Raymond Canada Day Parade on Monday was a great exhibition of community spirit as thousands flocked the parade route to enjoy all the sights and sounds.
The 40-minute parade got off to a slightly late start, but once it got rolling served as an excellent showcase of local talent and local ingenuity in putting together an excellent diversity of floats, classic vehicles, horses and colourfully costumed participants.
Broadway Avenue North was barricaded off to vehicle traffic and spectators coming out to the parade set their lawn chairs out on both sides of the street, and sometimes right on it. Hundreds of excited youngsters waited eagerly for their chance to get their hands on the candy and other gifts thrown out by various groups and floats taking part.
And when the pipers could be heard, and the red serge of the Mounties leading the parade could be perceived in the distance, excitement grew to a fever pitch with kids screaming to parents, “It’s coming!”
There were about 100 entries in this year’s parade, making it one of the biggest ever in Raymond’s recent Canada Day Parade history. And with no competition from other events in the region, as would have been the case on July 1, spectators came in from all over to celebrate together with longtime Raymond residents their love of country and community, and to wave their Canadian flags proudly.

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