Whitchurch-Stouffville celebrating Canada's 150th with summer events
Main Street and Memorial Park will be decorated with themed banners and flowers as part of the celebration

YorkRegion.com
May 2, 2017
Ali Raza

The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville has celebrations all summer for Canada’s 150th birthday.

They include events, activities, and initiatives stretching May to September, with more expected to be added on to the schedule. For the duration of spring and summer, Main Street and Memorial Park will be decorated with themed banners and flowers as part of the celebration.

The celebrations intend to showcase aspects of Canadian heritage, including the town’s own history. Local community centres across the municipality also have their own celebrations planned.

Events begin May 6 with the Jane’s Walk. Local historian Fred Robbins will deliver two historical walking tours in downtown Stouffville. Participants can learn about the town’s churches and/or pre-Confederation homes.

Throughout May and June, the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library will have a Canadian flag collage comprised of drawings and statements on “what Canada means to me”. The library’s at its temporary location on 175 Mostar St. Additionally, this year’s Stouffville Reads event will feature selected Canadian books.

Doors Open Whitchurch-Stouffville is set for June 3; residents can learn about the town’s history through fourteen sites open to the public and a walking tour.

The Lebovic Centre for Arts and Entertainment (19 on the Park) features Yellow Bellies on June 10. The historical drama looks at the experiences of Mennonite objectors during the Second World War and features history in close connection to Stouffville.

On Canada Day, the celebrations blast off with the enhanced fireworks display at the Strawberry Festival. The festival includes its own schedule of Canada 150 celebrations and, notably, the town’s mobile washroom trailer will also be launched at the festival.

Throughout the summer as part of the town’s WS Walks program, prizes will be given to anyone who walks 150 kilometres in support of Canada 150. Pedometers will be supplied by the program.

A Canada 150 Mosaic will be made for September’s Culture Days celebrations. The mural aims to bring more than 400 people together to create a mosaic that highlights the town’s distinctiveness.

As spring and summer continue, the town will update its list of celebrations. To stay informed, visit townofws.ca/canada150.