PUSLINCH – Officials say Canada Day will be a blast this year in Puslinch.
Not only will the community be celebrating Canada’s 157th birthday, but this year visitors can walk the grounds and see the work the township has been doing outside the Puslinch Community Centre (PCC).
Park upgrades include replacement of the tennis court surface and netting, a new play structure, bleachers, lights at the soccer field and a new parking lot at the rear of the park.
The $1.35-million project commenced last year and is substantially complete.
“We’re excited the community centre grounds are pretty much completed,” said Andrea Miljkovic, chair of the Canada Day committee for the Optimist Club of Puslinch, which is hosting the day’s events.
“It’s a great opportunity for the community to see the park.”
The club is offering a free pancake breakfast from 9 to 11am on July 1, complete with pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, juices, coffee and tea.
And be sure to have a slice of Canada Day cake. If the weather is good, there’s outdoor seating behind the community centre. If not, diners can move inside the PCC.
There will be live music and the playground – off limits during construction work last year – will be available for children.
“We often have bouncy castles and games. But this year we have the playground. And the soccer club is opening a side field for kids who want to kick a ball around,” Miljkovic said.
Local community groups, like churches and the Aberfoyle Agricultural Society, will have displays in the air-conditioned foyer inside the PCC.
Breakfast is free but donations are welcome, Miljkovic said.
At dusk, the park comes alive again with a free fireworks display. Again, donations are gratefully accepted.
TimBits soccer players will sing O Canada, and then the fireworks show begins, with live musical accompaniment.
“It’s a good show – very well done,” Miljkovic said. “People don’t expect that in a smaller community. People are usually impressed.”
Part of the park rejuvenation includes lights at the soccer fields.
So stick around after the fireworks when the soccer pitches get lit up, Miljkovic added.
The Optimists’ food truck will also be on site with freezies, ice cream bars and other snacks.
The Rotary Club of Guelph announced a few months ago that it will not be doing fireworks in Riverside Park for Canada Day, as it has done in Guelph for almost a decade.
Miljkovic said that’s on her radar. “Because I think we are on Guelph’s radar,” she said with a laugh, adding they have extra volunteers to guide traffic this year in case there’s an influx of out-of-towners.
She also advised coming early to be sure to get a spot.
Bring your own chairs, blankets and bug spray, she also suggested.
“It’s a long day for the club, but it’s a great day for the community,” she added.
