Volunteers organize Canada Day events in Timmins in less than 48 hours

A lack of Canada Day activities in Timmins prompted a cake baker and her father to organize a last-minute event, to great success — while the city’s drone show received mixed reactions as the main event.

Dozens of families enjoyed some Canada Day festivities at the Schumacher Lions Club Park — food, music and games made for a fun-filled outing.

And it was all organized in less than 48 hours.

“People were complaining that there was nothing going on, for the kids, on Canada Day,” said co-organizer Dave Farrell.

Farrell’s daughter Piper, a cake baker, had the idea of planning a community-led event upon realizing the City of Timmins had no daytime activities planned.

Then Farrell called in some favours.

“Once we knew we had the park, we just called some people, got some entertainment, and it was all free, too,” he said.

“It was all a community effort.”

Face painting, karaoke, prizes, food, water and much more, all provided in-kind and through cash donations totalling around $500.

It was a resounding success, with local officials praising the effort.

Speaking to people who attended the drone show, some found it to be a neat and new event for the city. Others prefer fireworks and more activities over the course of the day, like in other surrounding communities. (Source: Dave Houston)

“There are people in our community who really care and give the time and the energy to put something like that up. I can’t applaud them more,” said Cory Robin, Timmins city councillor.

The main attraction that night received a mixed reception.

Speaking to people who attended the drone show, some found it to be a neat and new event for the city.

Others prefer fireworks and more activities over the course of the day, like in other surrounding communities.

It cost around $30,000, jointly funded by the city, the Bucket Shop and Northern College — and organized by a planning committee that declined to comment further.

In the future, Robin said Canada Day festivities should always be community-led.

“If they grew that, with volunteers and figured out a structure and said, ‘This is what we want to do, this how we’ll do it. Can the city help?’ I say the answer to that question is ‘yes.’”

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Farrell said there are talks of forming an event planning committee to organize community gatherings throughout the summer, including Canada Day.

Robin said city council will debrief Monday’s celebrations and gather community feedback.