There will be no fireworks at a scaled-down Canada Day celebration in Langley this July 1.
It will be a daytime-only event, without a midway or a major marketplace.
The changes have been made because the Township has taken over the 2015 Canada Day celebrations from the Langley International Festival Society, which took over the duties of the Langley Canada Day Celebrations Society last year.
The society tried to combine the Canada Day and International Festival events, but that proved to be a struggle, with lower-than-expected turnout and higher-than-expected expenses.
In mid-February, the International Festival Society sent a letter to the Township that said the society wanted to give up responsibility for Canada Day and concentrate on the multi-cultural festival.
Festival spokesperson Shar Dubas told The Times her organization was in the red after Canada Day, but has since managed to get out of debt.
The International Festival will be held on Aug. 22 and 23 at Willoughby Park.
The Township announced it has teamed up with the Langley Events Centre and country music radio station JR-FM to hold a lower-key Canada Day event at Willoughby Community Park.
The plan is to keep the Township share of the cost to $10,000, the amount of the grant it gave event organizers in the past.
A Township press release says the free, day-time event will feature live entertainment, country music, activities in the park, and JR-FM’s Great Big JRBQ.
Proceeds from the barbecue will benefit the Basics for Babies program, which helps Food Banks BC support young families by providing donations of food, formula, and diapers.
The day will also include old-fashioned children’s games and visitors are encouraged to enjoy Willoughby Community Park’s playground, spray park, and sand volleyball courts.
“This event will give people in the community a chance to bring a blanket or lawn chair down to the park, enjoy some great entertainment and good food, unwind and have fun,” Township manager of recreation services James Marvel said.
“It will be like a country picnic where families and neighbours can get together to socialize, play in the park, listen to music, and celebrate our country in a relaxed atmosphere.”
The Township Canada Day celebrations at Willoughby park will complement events being held in Fort Langley on July 1 at the Langley Centennial Museum, the BC Farm Museum, and the Fort Langley National Historic Site.