GALLERY: Heat, rain and fireworks make for fun Canada Day in Westman Posted: Last Modified:

Westman residents came out in droves over the long weekend to celebrate Canada Day, with Sun reporters chronicling the festivities in Brandon and Wasagaming.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/07/2023 (1168 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Westman residents came out in droves over the long weekend to celebrate Canada Day, with Sun reporters chronicling the festivities in Brandon and Wasagaming.

In Brandon, a lot of the action took place around the Riverbank Discovery Centre, with the grounds playing host to a variety of attractions, including musical performances, a canine stunt show, a face painting booth, food vendors and a fly-by from members of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum.

While the celebration was briefly put on hold in the evening due to a thunderstorm, the weather quickly cleared up and allowed organizers to get back on track, finishing strong with a fireworks display over the Assiniboine River.

Local families gather at the Fusion Credit Union Stage Saturday afternoon to take part in Brandon’s Canada Day festivities. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)
Local families gather at the Fusion Credit Union Stage Saturday afternoon to take part in Brandon’s Canada Day festivities. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)

In Wasagaming, residents tried to beat the sweltering July heat by hanging out around Clear Lake, while also enjoying some musical acts and other activities within the townsite itself.

This past Saturday marked Canada’s 156th birthday, with the country’s Constitution Act (or British North America Act) being given royal assent by the British monarchy on March 29, 1867 and officially going into effect on July 1 that same year.

This act united the separate territories of Canada (Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) into a single dominion, laying the groundwork for other provinces and territories to join Confederation throughout the 19th and 20th century.

» The Brandon Sun

Beach-goers play volleyball at Clear Lake in Wasagaming during Canada Day celebrations at Riding Mountain National Park on Saturday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
Beach-goers play volleyball at Clear Lake in Wasagaming during Canada Day celebrations at Riding Mountain National Park on Saturday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
A massive blue firecracker explode in the skies over the Brandon Riverbank Discovery Centre on Saturday night, marking the end of Canada Day 2023 festivities in the city. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
A massive blue firecracker explode in the skies over the Brandon Riverbank Discovery Centre on Saturday night, marking the end of Canada Day 2023 festivities in the city. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Shazam the border collie performs a tremendous leap off the back of Canine Stars founder Ethan Wilhelm to catch a frisbee. Wilhelm and his fellow Canine Starts trainers put together three different shows for Brandon’s Canada Day festivities at the Riverbank Discovery Centre, where their stunt dogs performed a variety of impressive physical feats for local families. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)
Shazam the border collie performs a tremendous leap off the back of Canine Stars founder Ethan Wilhelm to catch a frisbee. Wilhelm and his fellow Canine Starts trainers put together three different shows for Brandon’s Canada Day festivities at the Riverbank Discovery Centre, where their stunt dogs performed a variety of impressive physical feats for local families. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)
Shaylene Chartrand with Miss Sandi Bay and the Rainbow Tornadoes jigs for a large crowd in Wasagaming during Canada Day celebrations at Riding Mountain National Park on Saturday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
Shaylene Chartrand with Miss Sandi Bay and the Rainbow Tornadoes jigs for a large crowd in Wasagaming during Canada Day celebrations at Riding Mountain National Park on Saturday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
Mariah Phillips performs “Oh Canada” during the opening ceremonies for Brandon’s Canada Day festivities, which took place at the Riverbank Discovery Centre grounds. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)
Mariah Phillips performs “Oh Canada” during the opening ceremonies for Brandon’s Canada Day festivities, which took place at the Riverbank Discovery Centre grounds. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)
Some local dignitaries take part in the opening ceremonies for Brandon’s Canada Day celebration at the Fusion Credit Union Stage. They are, from left to right, Mayor Jeff Fawcett, Brandon-Souris MP Larry Maguire, Brandon West MLA Reg Hewler, Brandon East MLA Isleifson, acting Brandon Police Service chief Randy Lewis and Brandon Fire and Emergency Services deputy chief Marc Lefebvre. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)
Some local dignitaries take part in the opening ceremonies for Brandon’s Canada Day celebration at the Fusion Credit Union Stage. They are, from left to right, Mayor Jeff Fawcett, Brandon-Souris MP Larry Maguire, Brandon West MLA Reg Hewler, Brandon East MLA Isleifson, acting Brandon Police Service chief Randy Lewis and Brandon Fire and Emergency Services deputy chief Marc Lefebvre. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)
Members of Full Flannel Jacket perform on the Fusion Credit Union Stage during Brandon’s Canada Day festivities at the Riverbank Discovery Centre grounds. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)
Members of Full Flannel Jacket perform on the Fusion Credit Union Stage during Brandon’s Canada Day festivities at the Riverbank Discovery Centre grounds. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)
Muyiwa Faronbi, far left, and his family celebrate Canada Day by attending the Fusion Credit Union Stage to watch Full Flannel Jacket perform. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)
Muyiwa Faronbi, far left, and his family celebrate Canada Day by attending the Fusion Credit Union Stage to watch Full Flannel Jacket perform. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)
Beach-goers enjoy the sand and water at Clear Lake in Wasagaming during Canada Day celebrations at Riding Mountain National Park on Saturday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
Beach-goers enjoy the sand and water at Clear Lake in Wasagaming during Canada Day celebrations at Riding Mountain National Park on Saturday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
Members of The Janzen Boys perform on the Fusion Credit Union Stage during Brandon’s Canada Day festivities at the Riverbank Discovery Centre grounds. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)
Members of The Janzen Boys perform on the Fusion Credit Union Stage during Brandon’s Canada Day festivities at the Riverbank Discovery Centre grounds. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)
Some local youth get their arms and faces painted during Brandon’s Canada Day festivities at the Riverbank Discovery Centre grounds. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)
Some local youth get their arms and faces painted during Brandon’s Canada Day festivities at the Riverbank Discovery Centre grounds. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)
A burst of fiery red lights up the sky over the Riverbank Discovery Centre on Saturday night, as fireworks mark the end to Canada Day 2023. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
A burst of fiery red lights up the sky over the Riverbank Discovery Centre on Saturday night, as fireworks mark the end to Canada Day 2023. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Brandon ends Canada Day celebrations with a grand display of fireworks at the Riverbank Discovery Centre on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Brandon ends Canada Day celebrations with a grand display of fireworks at the Riverbank Discovery Centre on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Don't forget to catch the fireworks display tonight at the Riverbank Discovery Centre in Brandon at dusk. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun files)
Don't forget to catch the fireworks display tonight at the Riverbank Discovery Centre in Brandon at dusk. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun files)
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