Kincardine endures wettest Canada Day parade, ceremony on record

It had to be the wettest Canada Day on record, as pouring rain and strong wind greeted the crowd that gathered at the flag pole, at the bottom of Harbour Street, Kincardine, for the annual ceremony, Friday morning.

Earlier at the Kincardine Legion, the Canada Day parade formed up for an 11 a.m. start, but organizers delayed it for 15 minutes, hoping the heavy rain would end, but it didn't.

So, the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band, resplendent in rain capes, led the parade through downtown Kincardine to the flag pole, followed by the Kincardine Legion Colour Party, members of the Legion, dignitaries, the Kincardine Air Cadets carrying a huge Canadian flag, the Grace Dance Academy, Celtic Dance Academy, and a sea of umbrellas.

MC Mike Walsh welcomed everyone, and brief speeches were given by Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb, Huron-Kinloss mayor and Bruce County warden Mitch Twolan, and Kincardine deputy mayor Jacqueline Faubert.

Keith Davidson of the Canada Day committee welcomed Dr. Gary Gurbin and presented him with a red-and-white hockey jersey with "Doc" on it and "50" on the back for the 50 years he has served the Kincardine community, in his medical practice and as a Member of Parliament in Ottawa.

Gurbin said Canada Day has always been a special day for him, as he served this area at the House of Commons. The community of Kincardine means a lot to him, as well, and he thanked the wonderful people of Kincardine for so many great memories over the past 50 years.

And finally, he thanked everyone for supporting his medical practice, the many projects at the hospital and medical clinic, and physician recruitment. Dr. Lisa Scott is taking over as physician lead at the medical clinic, he said.

The crowd sang "This Land is My Land," followed by "O Canada" and the raising of the flag.

As the rain continued, the crowd dispersed.

By dusk, the rain had quit and the wind had died down enough for the fireworks to take place at the pier.

Eldest person in attendance at the Canada Day ceremony, was Second World War veteran Art Turland of Kincardine who will be 95 in the fall; his colleague, Charles Mann was second, at the age of 94. Youngest person in attendance, was 10-month-old Cullen Reid, son of Nick and Nicole Reid, and grandson of Terry and Marlene Reid and Kevin and Karen MacKay, all of Kincardine.



The Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band leads the Canada Day parade through the pouring rain to the flag pole at the bottom of Harbour Street, Kincardine, Friday morning