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Thursday, June 25, 2009

Make a plan to attend the Canada Day parade in Pierrefonds

posted by BOFarrell at 7h12

Everyone makes mistakes. But only a few admit when they are wrong. In a nutshell, that is why, if you live in Pierrefonds, you should go to next Wednesday’s Canada Day parade.

The weather is expected to be good. You will have the day off work. The kids are out of school. The event will unfold along Pierrefonds Blvd., so you won’t have far to go. You have no excuse. Besides, who wouldn’t want to celebrate this country’s birthday?

But, more importantly, officials with the Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough will be watching. They will be looking to see how many people line the streets. They will want to determine whether they made the right decision to reinstate the parade.

Earlier this spring, the borough council had to find ways to trim its budget. It’s never a pleasant exercise. But during their deliberations, it was decided that the parade would be axed. The move would save $20,000. They justified the action by pointing out that in the last few years attendance was down.

But then, a number of residents objected. They rallied. They argued. And, in the end, they succeeded in convincing the council that the parade was an event worth saving.

It was one of those rare occasions when someone decided to fight city hall and won. The members of the borough council showed they could keep an open mind. They were willing to entertain the idea that perhaps they had made a mistake by axing the parade.

So now, it’s up to the members of the community to weigh in. Their presence will be like casting a vote. But this is not about politics.

Personally, I think it would be a shame if residents don’t make the effort. A parade is a special event. It’s a chance to have a front-row seat to a celebration of ourselves, especially a local parade. It is a pageant of groups and individuals who take part in creating the community.

Yesterday, I sat out on a deck to watch the St. Jean Baptiste parade in St. Lazare with friends. It was great. The sun was shining, music filled the street. And in the thick of it was a 4-year-old girl who was standing at the edge of the street. It was here first parade. She couldn’t believe it. As the horses and floats and people in vintage cars paraded in front of her, she waved and held her arms out hoping for a hug from fuzzy mascots as they strolled by. Her face expressed a simple, uncomplicated glee.

If you live in Pierrefonds, go out to the parade next Wednesday. Let your heart be light. And celebrate Canada Day with a smile.

Brenda O’Farrell