Canada Day in Calgary

It is difficult for Brenda Brown to not become emotional when she reflects on the people she's met in her work promoting Canada Day to Calgarians.

The first year the chair of the Calgary Canada Day committee delivered goody bags to babies born in hospitals on July 1,a Brazilian family in particular tugged at her heartstrings.

"They were very new Canadians, had just gotten their citizenship, and were so focused on delivering the baby they almost forgot it was Canada Day,"Brown remembers with a laugh."They got all dressed up in flags and were really, really proud.They just seemed to be a picture of Canada -they were young and so excited to be new citizens.We take it so much for granted when we're born here."

This year,citizenship ceremonies for new Canadians at both Heritage Park and Fort Calgary will be among the many festivities held throughout the city on our coun-try's 144th birthday.

"We're very honoured to be hosting the ceremony and welcoming new Canadians,because that's what this country is built on," says Barb Munro, communications specialist for Heritage Park

"Heritage Park preserves and celebrates the best of Canada both then and now. Like any birthday, it's a chance to look back and reflect on how much we've grown."

The park's all-day celebration goes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,with crafts and games, street performers and an old fashioned circus.The first 2011 guests through the gates before 10: 30 a.m.will receive a free pancake breakfast.

At Fort Calgary, activities run from 9 a.m.to 4 p.m.,which will include a petting zoo, pony rides, free pancake breakfast and seven live bands in partnership with the Cantos Music Foundation.

One of the musicians playing is Aaron Pollock,the grandson of former alderman John Ayer,who fought for the preservation of Fort Calgary. Along with the citizenship ceremony,this helps reinforce Calgarians'connection to their history, says Fort Calgary CEO Sara-Jane Gruetzner.

"Often we get caught up in the festivities but we also need to remember what it's all about it," says Gruetzner."We're balancing family fun with the more meaningful side of Canada Day, all in the birthplace of the city."

The nearby East Village Street Fair,also from 9 a.m.to 4 p.m., will showcase local artisans'wares, crafts, music and cuisine, while a free shuttle bus will provide transportation from Fort Calgary to Olympic Plaza and Prince's Island Park.

Three stages of entertainment will be offered at Prince's Island, where the festivities run from noon to 6 p.m.and include games and crafts, food and merchandise vendors.

Evening activities start at 7: 30 p.m.at Olympic Plaza with local music,a performance by world champion hoop dancer Dallas Arcand and a fireworks display from the rooftop of the municipal building from 10: 45 to 11 p.m.

For seniors unable to attend public events,the Calgary Canada Day committee organizes a Canada Day bus that visits 3,500 seniors at residential seniors'lodges the week before July 1st.

A special seniors'breakfast is also arranged at the Calgary Zoo for 200 guests,whose names are submitted by seniors'organizations across the city.