Tremendous crowd fills Harbour Street, Kincardine, for Canada Day 150 celebration

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people crowded Harbour Street, Kincardine, for the Canada Day 150 celebration, Saturday morning.

It was cloudy but the rain held off, as the parade formed up at Quinn Plaza and then marched through downtown Kincardine to Harbour Street, and from there down to the flag pole for the ceremony.



The Kincardine Canada Day parade marches down Harbour Street to the flag pole

MC Mike Walsh welcomed everyone and was amazed at the mammoth crowd which he could see perfectly, thanks to a new wooden stage set up beside the flag pole, courtesy of Kevin Bradley and his helpers.

Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb told the crowd that, in his nine years in office, this was the most impressive showing ever. In fact, there could be more people at this ceremony, he said, than in Ottawa which was suffering a deluge of rain.

"It's phenomenal to look all the way down Harbour Street and see a sea of red-and-white," he said. "I'm proud to be a Canadian and proud to be in Kincardine. God bless the veterans who are here today. We have Paul Henderson with us today, one of the greatest Canadians who has never forgotten his roots here in Kincardine. God bless you all and God bless Canada!"

Kincardine mayor Anne Eadie agreed with the view up Harbour Street. "This is very impressive. It's so wonderful to live in such a great country. Welcome from the Municipality of Kincardine, to our visitors, those who have just moved here, and to our long-time residents. Happy Canada Day!"

Also joining in the ceremony, were Keith Davidson and RCMP constable Jason Morton.

Brad Kirkconnell introduced guest speaker Paul Henderson, who was onstage with his wife, Eleanor.

Henderson began his NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings, and later the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Atlanta Braves and then the WHA. In 1972, he was a member of Team Canada for the eight-game Summit Series against the USSR (Russia). Twelve-million people were watching on television and more listening on the radio, when Henderson scored the winning goal, the sports moment of the Century.

Henderson welcomed everyone and noted that while he played 18 years of hockey, what he is remembered for is that one goal! "I remember it as the one thing that Wayne Gretzky never did," he said, with a laugh.

He told of the mischief he and Clarke Pollock (a Kincardine-area referee) got into when they both lived in Kincardine.

"It was Clarke's idea to put some paper and dry leaves in a hedge and set it on fire," he said. "When it started to really burn, we took off. Fortunately, the fire crews got there and put it out, but I always said that Clarke started it. The best thing Clarke did was have a son, Kevin (who became an NHL referee). And the best thing I did was marry Eleanor Alton."

Henderson said he has travelled to more than 50 countries, but Canada is the greatest country in the world.

Three years ago, he was inducted into the International Hockey Hall of Fame in Stockholm, Sweden, and was introduced by Vladislav Tretiak, the Russian goalie from the Summit Series.

"He said to me, 'Paul, do you know how you scored that goal? The reason you were able to score - it was bad goaltending'. I've been riding that one goal for 45 years, and it's been a great ride.

"Happy Canada Day. It's great to be back home again."

Henderson and Eadie put a shovelful of soil on a recently-planted Royal Red Maple tree in Macpherson Park, dedicating it in honour of Canada Day 150.

There were activities in the park through the afternoon, including races and games for the children, and the Kincardine Lions barbecue. The Kincardine Community Singers also performed part of their "Canada Concert" under the direction of Patt Lowry.

Canada Day 150 ended with fireworks over Kincardine Harbour at dusk.