Updated: June 30 – Slave Lake Canada Day (noon to 3 p.m.) events moved to Legacy Centre (pancake breakfast still at Abundant Life)

Pearl Lorentzen
Lakeside Leader

Kinuso and Canyon Creek’s annual Canada Day parades are staggered this year, so that people have the option of going to both.

Smith and Red Earth Creek also have a parade this year. Slave Lake has its annual pancake breakfast and an event in the park.

The fun doesn’t stop on Friday, July 1. There is stuff to do on both Saturday and Sunday.

Pancake breakfasts

Pancake breakfasts are a Canada Day staple. Kinuso, Slave Lake, and Wabasca all have one.

Kinuso’s pancake breakfast is from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Kinuso Fire Hall. It costs $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

The Slave Lake one is from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at Abundant Life Worship Centre on 3rd Ave. NE, just off Main St. It is free.

The Wabasca one is from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the George D. Auger Community Hall.

Parades

On the southshore of Lesser Slave Lake, Kinuso and Canyon Creek have parades each year on Canada Day.

This year, these are staggered with Kinuso at 11 a.m. and the Debbie Sepolla Memorial Canada Day Parade at 2 p.m. The two communities are 15 minutes apart on Hwy. 2.

The Kinuso parade floats line up behind the Ag Hall.

The Canyon Creek parade starts at the Canyon Creek Hotel and ends at the Canyon Creek Arena.

Wabasca parade starts at 10 a.m. It runs from the M.D. building to the Lakeview Sports Centre parking lot.

For people in the back lakes, Red Earth Creek Canada Day parade starts at 11 a.m. Floats meet at the Back Lakes Sports Arena.

For people in the eastern part of the M.D. of Lesser Slave River, there’s a parade in Smith.

Traditionally, Smith’s main parade is at the beginning of the Smith-Hondo Fall Fair Labour Day weekend. This year, there’s another one on Canada Day starting at 10 a.m.

Other activities

From noon to 3 p.m., the Town of Slave Lake is organizing events in the Legacy Centre. Velvet Hand will be playing music. There will also be face painting and temporary tattoos. There’s a watermelon eating contest. At the event, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy will be selling cotton candy and lemonade as a grad fundraiser. Other vendors will be selling crepes, and other food.

In Canyon Creek, following the parade there is a free barbecue with hamburgers and hot dogs. Also, a car show and kids’ events. The parade and the other events are put on by the Canyon Creek Recreation Association. At night, Canyon Creek has fireworks.

Spruce Point Park, west of Kinuso, has a full weekend of events.

These start with a Bike Rodeo put on by Big Lakes County bylaw officers and the High Prairie RCMP. It is on July 1 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Ride for Reed Mini Broncs Memorial is on July 1 with gates opening at 3 p.m. and rodeo starting at 5 p.m. This is for bronc riders aged six to 16 years old. Admission is $5 at the gate.

In the eastern part of the M.D. of Lesser Slave River, the Smith Legion will be open during the day on July 1. This is followed by a Gil Grand concert at 7 p.m. in the Smith Community Complex. Smith has fireworks, which are scheduled to start at 11 p.m.

Wabasca has events all day from 7:30 a.m. to fireworks at 11 p.m. These include, but are not limited to a crib tournament, free swimming, horseshoe tournament, beach volleyball, a Canada Day ball tournament, and concerts. See calendar event on lakesideleader.com for details.

Registration is past, but people could likely go to watch two Gilwood Golf and Country Club events happening July 1 and 2. The one on July 1 is a Memorial Scramble in honour of Leard and Tony. It starts at 2 p.m. with a shot-gun start, which means people start at different holes at the same time. It is a nine-hole scramble.

July 2 and 3 events

People have the choice of two big events on July 2.

One is Smith School’s 100th anniversary. Events go from 8 a.m. to midnight. These include a pancake breakfast, open house at the school, beef on a bun dinner, and a DJ.

The other is the Wildrose Spruce Point Rodeo, which is on both Saturday and Sunday starting at 2 p.m. On Saturday, the rodeo also has a family dance (9:30 p.m.) and fireworks. These are at the Spruce Point Park rodeo grounds.

For more details, see the calendar on lakesideleader.com.