Donald Teuma-Castelletti
QUYON June 30, 2018
Canada Day celebrations along the river kicked off early in Quyon, as the town’s party featured reptiles, a parade and the unveiling of their brand-new flag.
But that’s not all that’s new, as the organizing committee featured just two returning members this year, meaning the other eight were bringing some fresh faces to the volunteers helping keep the party rolling for Canada’s big 151st birthday.
With much of the previous committee having organized the party for years, they were ready to move on, and fears of the celebrations dwindling out arose.
However, Mitchel Trudeau and Chelsea Lapierre wouldn’t stand for that, and soon enough recruited a new gang of fresh faces to help them out.
“We said no, we always have a good review of our fireworks and the party,” said Trudeau, on their need to keep the festivities in Quyon.
With Trudeau as president and Lapierre as treasurer, the group organized to have the afternoon start at 3 p.m. with a barbeque, cotton candy vendor and fun with La Maison de la Famille de Quyon.

With the community centre under construction, the party took over the Quyon Legion as those events filled up the backyard. Inside, at 4:30 p.m., the reptiles were let loose for the local children to get up close with snakes, turtles and much more.
Dallas Steen from Little Ray’s Reptiles brought a collection of visitors, as kids marveled or, in some cases, recoiled, at the sight of the scaly creatures. She’d provide a quick lesson on all her animals, before walking each one around the room for children to touch or get a better look at. The boa constrictor proved to be popular, as it coiled about her body, allowing children to touch its back and some adults to take a couple of big steps back from.
Once the reptiles wrapped up, fun continued in the evening with their annual parade, starting from Onslow Elementary School and touring up through to the Quyon Ferry. The local Lions, businesses, the Quyon Tractor and Truck Pull and much more entered floats, with many more young cyclists, classic cars and a few horses rounding out the participants.
Pulling up the rear was the Canada Day Committee, as well as Pontiac MNA André Fortin, Pontiac MP Will Amos and Municipality of Pontiac Mayor Joanne Labadie, too.
The committee worked together to parade their new flag, measuring 12 feet by 24 feet, all the way to the flag pole next to the ferry. There, Trudeau thanked everyone for their continued support, as well as his new group for their dedication in building another memorable year. Natasha Curley sang the national anthem, and the new flag was raised up.
Once the sun set, the crew put on their fireworks display, a show the group is continually proud of. Finally, DJ Maestro Joe took over the Legion to provide the night-time party.