Canada Day weekend in Winkler, Emerson, and Altona was a special showcase of community spirit and national pride, marked by festive events that brought people together to celebrate, even with the rain moving events indoors, the communities ensured the festivities continued uninterrupted.

"It's exciting, celebrating Canada, and teaching my kids and getting them to know where they live," said Erica Fast, who attended Winkler's Canada Day events.

In Winkler, July 1st began with Culture Fest at the PW Enns Centennial Concert Hall, featuring vendors and performances. Culture Fest featured a diverse lineup of performances. The entertainment schedule included acts from numerous cultures like Busisii Godfrey Mbabazi from Uganda, John Louisse Vilos from the Philippines, and Tuesday & Promise Ebuade from Nigeria, showcasing their singing talents. There were also dance performances by Gurkirpal Singh Ubhi & Gurvir Ubhi from India, and the Indigenous Jingle Dance by Jeneba. The festival also included a citizenship recognition certification ceremony and a performance by Island Breeze, which featured authentic Polynesian entertainment from the islands of Samoa, Fiji, Hawaii, Tahiti, and New Zealand.

"I always get excited to just see people come through our doors and and celebrate with us... it's always good to feel like I can remember home, but also share a bit of home with our with our local community as well. I think everyone feels the same way," said Shepard Chiwandire, Regional Connections Volunteer Coordinator.

Simultaneously, free public skating at the Meridian Exhibition Centre provided a refreshing break from the summer heat. The Co-op Kids Zone inside the Meridian Exhibition Centre was a hit, with bouncy houses, a petting zoo, and a chance to meet princesses in the afternoon. 

"It's great the city put this on, this indoor bouncy castles and the skating... I'm excited that people in the city had the foresight to plan indoor activities. We're really blessed to live in Canada, I think sometimes we take it for granted," said attendee Walter Giesbrecht.

Eric the Juggler entertained the crowd at 6:30 PM, while kids enjoyed free glitter tattoos and cotton candy throughout the day. The event ended with stage shows with live music by 'The Seven Pines' and 'The Quonset Brothers'.

"I'm really excited about how it's not just local Canadians but also different nationalities celebrating Canada Day. I was quite impressed how everything came together," said Jewel White, a member of the band 'The Seven Pines'. "Every Canada day for me is a joyful day... I think it proves how welcoming Canada is as a whole."

Emerson kicked off the weekend with their Fire Department Street Dance and BBQ on June 30th. The event, held in the town square, featured lively music by 'Banned & Outlawed', energetic dancing, and a delicious barbecue meal. The Emerson Fire Department once again demonstrated their skill for organizing engaging and memorable community events, even with attending multiple calls that day prior to the evening event.

"I'm very excited to have this in Emmerson, everyone puts so much work into it; rain or shine, we will continue. Those who really want to be here will come no matter what the weather is like," said Lauri Ihma, Emmerson First Responder and Firefighter. "It means a lot to have the community come, we try to give them the best of ourselves, providing service for the community. So it's nice to see them coming back and supporting us."

In Altona, Canada Day celebrations moved indoors quickly due to weather concerns but continued to thrive with a collection of activities at the Millennium Exhibition Centre and Rhineland Pioneer Centre. The event included food trucks, various fun activities such as inflatables, cotton candy, a scavenger hunt, and a petting zoo. Highlights included a bike decorating contest, a kiddie carnival presented by the Manitoba Sunflower Festival Queen Quest, and special stage shows with live music. featuring performances by 'The Pylons' and 'Nick of Time'.

"Canada Day is to me is a very special celebration. It really shows that people can come together and just celebrate something like our country... so seeing everyone like wanting to go celebrate it and then seeing the community put up events so that everyone can just go and have a good day and... be stress-free," said 2023 Manitoba Sunflower Queen Olivia Driedger.

Whether in Winkler, Emerson, or Altona, this year's Canada Day weekend celebrations were memorable, filled with music, community spirit, and family-friendly activities.