There was no shortage of national pride at Canada Day activities in Vernon's Polson Park on July 1. (Pete McIntyre/Vernon Matters photo)

By Pete McIntyre

Oh Canada! Crowds flock to Vernon park to celebrate Canada Day

Jul 2, 2023 | 5:00 AM

It was the perfect day for a party.

Thousands of people came to Polson Park under sunny skies on Saturday, July 1, to show their love for the country — and their community — on Canada Day, the country’s 156th birthday.

Canada Day 2023 in Polson Park (Vernon Matters photo)

“The day was amazing. The turnout was great, kids went nuts for the double bouncy feature of house and slide,” Mayla Janzen, president of the North Okanagan Canada Day Society told Vernon Matters.

“The food truck garden was well utilized, and there was almost nothing you couldn’t get. Music and performances went well and on schedule, no hiccups this year. Clean-up was also better this year, the city cleared the garbages around 5 pm, and that helped a lot.”

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Janzen said overall, it was a great event, we’ll attended, and “lots of great positive feedback.”

People of all ages enjoyed the singers and other entertainment at the band shell, while also munching and sipping on the foods and drinks offered by the vendors.

Kids were lined up to try out the dunk tank — both to get dunked and to throw the ball to do the dunking — while the misting-water spray area was also helping to cool down the younger set.

The event featured the Polson Artisan Night Market for the second straight year, which once again proved popular as attendees were able to browse the vendors offering a range of products and services.

The Polson Artisan Market was packing in the people (Vernon Matters photo)

Activities in the park went from 10 a.m.to 9 p.m. and there were no fireworks in Vernon this year due to the dry conditions and wildfire risk.

Canada Day parties around the North Okanagan were also held in Armstrong, Enderby and Lumby.

The food vendors in the park’s oval were doing a brisk business (Vernon Matters photo)

Nationally, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon were on hand for the festivities in Ottawa.

“People are coming to Canada to proudly call it their home and build their lives and our communities and our country, all together,” Trudeau told a cheering crowd.

Trudeau said the country, which recently hit the 40 million mark for population, has withstood challenges, like wildfires and war in Europe, by showing compassion, engagement, openness and democracy.

“That’s Canada’s advantage in the world now more than ever,” the PM said.

In her speech to Canadians, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon said she is proud to live in a country working on national and global challenges while striving to be better.

“If we put in the hard work, if we do so together, there is nothing we cannot do,” she said.