Jorge Maria
shawville July 1, 2021
Shawville celebrated its first Canada Day parade since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The day was filled with sun and clouds but that didn’t stop the parade-goers from coming out in force. By the time the parade started, the sun peeked out long enough to give everyone a good view.
As in past years, floats were judged based on several categories: Best Horses; Best Business; Best Volunteer and Best Overall.
The parade was organized by volunteers from the Lions Club and overseen by parade Chairman James Howard, and Sara Knox.
Howard has been involved in the festivities for more than 20 years so he was a natural choice when the municipality came calling.
Due to recent discoveries of more than 1000 unmarked graves across Canada, a few parade floats, including the firetruck that led the parade have been adorned with orange shirts and ribbons.
“We never ask for a theme,” Howard said. Parade participants are free to express themselves in whatever way they wish.
Parade judge, Lyse Lacourse wore bright orange to mark the occasion. She wasn’t the only one. She said it was important to celebrate Canada Day and also recognize what’s happened in the last month. “As a Canadian, I want the truth to be told,” Lacourse said. She added, that she is very proud to be Canadian.
“I am doing a very quiet thing [wearing orange]. It affects me, deeply that any child should be taken away from their parents.”
I can’t change what happened, “but we can change it going forward,” she said.
Judging the parade was a huge undertaking for Lacourse and the other judges: there were tractors, horses, small ponies pulling equally small carts and a mobile stage blasted Neil Young’s Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World, covered by local band Abstract.
MNA André Fortin shared a float with Shawville Mayor Sandra Murray.
The Equity spoke with Fortin at the end of the parade. He said it was important for us to recognize what has happened over the last month and a half but also celebrate. “People in the community found a nice way to celebrate Canada Day, but also to show our respect for First Nations,” he said.
Winners
Best Horses: Anne Mcintyre
Best Business: Bait Bin
Best Volunteer: The Shawville Lions Club
Best Overall: The Municipality of Shawville.
