For a small community with a lot of seasonal residents, Dyers Bay knows how to party!
Every year, on the July Long Weekend, we celebrate the national birthdays of Canada and the USA in a single day. The party is always on Saturday, and this year, Saturday is July 1, Canada Day, with US Independence Day three days later. This being Canada’s 150th birthday, the Dyers Bay Association is going to take it up a notch.
NEW Parade prizes for “Best Dressed Pet, Best Float, and more” as well as participation awards for all. Since we can’t imagine a parade without spectators, they are eligible too! DBA Directors Laurie Cochrane and Delwyn Higgins will have the tough job of getting the judges to agree on winners!
NEW Pulled pork, salad and veggie burgers at the post-parade barbeque, and of course, hot dogs. All skillfully prepared by DBA Director Fred Hudson and helpers.
BIGGER fireworks. The Dyers Bay fireworks show is based on previous year donations. Thanks to generous donations last year and a top-up from the Association coffers, this year will be “a blast!”. Lots of red and white of course. Bruce Richardson, Cliff Berge and Jim Wadleigh (C) setting off the show and keeping everybody safe.
PLAN YOUR DAY
Events kick off at NOON SHARP with the parade forming up at the municipal parking lot, motivated, as always, by Parade Marshall Ron Baker, better known as Tickles the Clown. We need a nice mix of spectators and parade participants, especially children between zero and
100 years of age. Pets welcome. The parade goes through “downtown”, turns before The Flat Rocks”, and ends at the dock. AVOID DRIVING THROUGH Dyers Bay between 1145 and 1230!!
Following the parade, we will assemble at the clubhouse to be greeted by the Mayor of the Municipality of North Bruce Peninsula, Milt McIvor, and the President of the Dyers Bay Association, Jim Wadleigh (Canadian version). We will sing O Ca
nada and The Star Spangled Banner, followed by the awarding of parade prizes.
Then, it’s on to the barbeque. Bring $1.50 per person to help cover some of the costs.
The Bake Sale, organized by DBA Director Liz Schmitt- Matzen, will open when the barbeque starts. Get some great home-baked goodies donated by Dyers Bay cooks, with all proceeds to the Association.
The Book Sale also opens when the barbeque starts. Librarian Lee Bartley will be happy to help you thin out our great library of books and videos. Get some perfectly thoughtful gifts or build up your cottage library. How many cottage associations have their own library and volunteer librarian?!
GENERAL MEETING
After a nap or a swim or playing a board game with the grandchildren, plan to attend the 4PM General Meeting of the Association to hear what’s going on, help make decisions about our community and get a chance to hear and question North Bruce Peninsula Mayor Milt McIvor. As the smallest official “urban” community in the Northern Peninsula, we appreciate that the Mayor attends every year. It helps that we are generally a cohesive and organized group, a fact recognized by the Municipality.
FIREWORKS
We are fortunate to have a fabulous place to set off fireworks, at the far end of a long concrete dock with the light bouncing off the water. The best view is from the shore right beside the dock, and displays have been planned with that in mind. If you stay at your cottage, you’re going to miss some cool effects.
There is ZERO parking in downtown Dyers Bay, so if you drive, park in the municipal parking lot. Walking, if you are fairly close by, is best. Children will see walking back with flashlights in the semi- dark as a whole adventure in itself, plus it’s way past boring old regular bedtime!
Since it is dusk, and it’s been a wet Spring, mosquito repellent is a good call, as well as covering up with long sleeves and trousers. A blanket to ward of the chill of Georgian Bay and something soft to sit on is recommended. Bring a donation toward next years fireworks.
MUSIC starts at 9:30PM with fireworks starting about 10PM, depending on light.
RAIN DATE Sunday July 2, same time.
See you on Canada Day!
New friends were met. Old friends shared life. And ideas to enhance our community were hatched.