Stage getting ready for Canada Day and the first day of Music in the Park on July 1 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

CANADA TURNS 155!

Riverside Park ready to host Canada Day in-person for first time in three years

Jun 30, 2022 | 4:52 PM

KAMLOOPS — The tents are set up and the bandshell is ready to rock.

All that’s needed is people to fill the park and take in the first in-person Canada Day celebration since 2019.

“Just so excited, just to have a summer, have a Canada Day that’s normal again. So fun,” said Kamloops resident Heather Krahn.

Canada Day organizers have pulled the event together last-minute, but felt it was important, after a two-year hiatus, to bring the event back.

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“It’ll be a great time to get people back out and get people back celebrating together,” said Canada Day organizer Ray Dhaliwal from the Kamloops Multicultural Society. “It’s long overdue and I think we’re all ready for that. We need to get back together and celebrate who we are and what we are, and celebrate our country that we live in.”

Like many past Canada Day celebrations, there will be citizenship confirmations happening on stage.

For Shareen Sandhu, who came to Kamloops from India two years ago, this will be her first in-person Canada Day since arriving.

“I just want to know how it looks in general. This is my first Canada Day. I’m working, though, but let’s see how they celebrate at my workplace,” said Sandhu. “I like the [Canadian] people. They’re super sweet. The nicest people. They care about each other.”

Music will be playing all day at Riverside Park and Kamloops residents will have their pick of ethnic food, which will be near the bandshell this year.

“We have a full line-up of food. We have Indo-Canadian, we have Filipino. This year, we have two Mexican tents, something we haven’t had for a while. Greeks will be here again, very popular,” noted Dhaliwal.

Dhaliwal hopes there are no disruptions to Canada Day from freedom protesters, but he says there will be RCMP officers and security.

“Please don’t let that stop you from coming down. It will be a safe and secure event. We have security, we have RCMP. It’ll be a fun, family day for all tomorrow,” he said.