WEST CARLETON – Driving 212 kilometres, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., West Carleton Online was able to squeeze in five Canada Day parties yesterday (July 1), some twice.

From Constance Bay to Dunrobin to Corkery to Carp, West Carleton’s proud Canadians celebrated their country’s birthday from early morning to late evening. Some even started before that.

Carp Road

KINBURN – For those who live and drive in West Carleton, if you’ve taken the strip of Carp Road between Kinburn Side Road and Thomas A. Dolan Parkway any time shortly after Canada Day, you’ve seen the great big Canada Day flag painted on the road.

It’s a party project that dates back 27 years. The Borgs, the owners of the home by the road flag, have hosted a party almost every year since 1992 and with their friends painted the patriotic art each time.

“We started flag painting on Canada’s 125th birthday in 1992, back in Fitzroy Harbour as a neighbourhood street party,” Ken Borg told West Carleton Online. “After moving to Carp Road, we dropped it for a few years, then restarted the tradition and party about 10 years ago.”

West Carleton Online dropped by the Borgs on Canada Day afternoon and surprised the family and a few guests, especially because, as so often happens to us, we were late for the party.

“We had our celebration one day early to help some out of town guests enjoy the whole event, with fireworks at 10 p.m.,” Borg said. “I was hoping the Snowbirds would see the flag today, but they were too far north I think.”

We weren’t late to any other West Carleton parties, at least not by much.

HCA Seniors Breakfast

CARP – In the early morning there’s another long-standing tradition over in Carp – the Huntley Community Association’s (HCA) free Canada Seniors Breakfast. It was a great turnout for hot pancakes in the cool Carp Mess Hall.

Event sponsor Coun. Eli El-Chantiry was also the cook. The former restaurant owner was not satisfied with the consistency of his pancakes suggesting the issue was cooking flapjacks using a grill. There were no complaints inside though.

As is often the case, the breakfast is the first stop for many West Carleton political representatives as MP Karen McCrimmon, MPP Dr. Merrilee Fullerton and Senator Vern White were all in attendance chatting with the seniors. West Carleton Online would see the politicians regularly throughout our 14-and-a-half-hour day.

“I see some of you in the room aren’t seniors,” El-Chantiry joked. “You’re cheating. You have to leave. Thank you for being such a resilient community.”

McCrimmon wanted to return the thanks.

“With all the challenges we’ve had in this community, the Number 1 guy is in this room right now,” she said. “I think we should all thank Eli.”

HCA President Judy Makin was pleased with the breakfast bunch.

“I’ve lost track – I think 100,” she told West Carleton Online. “It’s wonderful, thanks to all the volunteers cooking, serving, cleaning and setting up.”

Makin said the breakfast featured something new this year – a green bin.

“We hope to fill it up and keep that waste out of the landfill,” she said. “This is our pleasure to do this. It’s all about gratitude for the seniors and what they’ve done for us.”

The Diefenbunker

CARP – Thanks to much more reasonable weather this year, there was a noticeable up-tick in attendance at all events.

Diefenbunker staff said they were fully booked for their Canada Day party. But they were still able to squeeze in the walk- up crowd. It was a day to tour the Cold War Museum for free and to take part in games, obstacle courses and above-ground fun of all kind for children.

The West Carleton Royal Canadian Legion

CONSTANCE BAY – Branch 616 knows its audience. Canada Day is for music, barbecues and shooting the bull on the beautiful grass and patio stone Legion patio while watching ever-working Legion President George Dolan man said barbecue.

With a beer out back, West Carleton Online learned the Constance Bay beaches were full of people today (July 1), and many were thinking of heading to Dunrobin a little later for the Canada Day event Light Up Dunrobin (more on that later).

The band Nt Nrml was rocking inside the Legion in a dark, cool hall and regulars decked out in their finest Canada Day clothing enjoying hamburgers and picnic salads.

Light Up Dunrobin

DUNROBIN – During West Carleton Online’s first trip of the day to Light Up Dunrobin, held at the Eagle Creek Golf and Country Club, things were just getting hopping.

The KOTT’s Kids Playground was full of fun and kids having it, and many older kids were enjoying the early musical line-up.

Following River City Junction, emcee for the day, Dunrobin resident and Boom 99.7’s Jon ‘Gonzo’ Mark hit the stage to thank the audience and bring on a few special guests including El-Chantiry, McCrimmon, Fullerton, the Good Deeds Cup winning West Carleton Warriors, Light Up Dunrobin’s volunteer organizing committee and Dunrobin Community Association President Greg Patacairk.

“I see houses being built and that’s a good thing,” Patacairk said of the rebuilding going on in the community following last fall’s tornado. “We’re going to build this community up better than before.”

“You’ve made a huge difference in a lot of peoples’ lives,” McCrimmon told the volunteers.

“It’s about making a difference,” El-Chantiry said. “We couldn’t ask for a better community.”

A special guest that watched from the audience, World War Two veteran and Dunrobin resident Dr. Roly Armitage thought Light Up Dunrobin was a great event.

“I was a VIP with my friend Mary and son Don and his wife wife Glenda last evening at Eagle Creek and we were very impressed with the total presentations,” Armitage told West Carleton Online today (July 2). “I am only 94 so am sure we will be back next year to celebrate the best country in the world. Thanks to all the volunteers who gave graciously of their time to make everyone comfortable.”

Corkery Canada Day

CORKERY – Over at the Corkery Community Centre, hundreds of area residents enjoyed entertainment for all ages, a barbecue and all the things the centre has to offer on a beautiful Monday afternoon.

Corkery Community Association Past President Bob McCormick said the turnout for this year’s event was far above last year’s which happened to fall on the hottest day in Ottawa history.

“I counted about 200 just now,” he told West Carleton Online around 7:30 p.m. “I bet we’ll have 400 by the end of the night.”

Following the barbecue there was cake for all while headliner Steve Stacey played his show. Following that, all the children at the event got on stage to lead the crowd in O Canada, with the first of the evening’s fireworks blasting off on the final note.