Canada Day Events

Monday, 30 June 2014 05:11

A look at the celebration planned for Oxford Centre

OXFORD CENTRE - The village of Oxford Centre is preparing to celebrate Canada Day and their local heritage.

Committee Co-Chair Shelley Buchanan says they have a full day of events planned including a bake sale, antique car and tractor show, kids games and fire muster all surrounding this year's theme, 'Our Heritage'.

"Probably the most popular event of the morning will be the parade, which starts at 11 o'clock. It's an interesting parade route, it actually loops back in on itself so you might get to see the parade twice so you might get to see the parade twice, depending on where you are sitting. It runs through the main street of Oxford Centre, which is Middletown Line and then turns down Oxford Centre Road. It cuts through a small little trail across one of local farmer's fields and then back up Old Stage Road and then back up Middletown Line."

The parade leaves from and ends at the Oxford Centre Fire Hall.

After the parade, the public is welcomed to walk through the Oxford Centre Hall and see displays honouring four local families that are inductees in the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame and the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame, as well as displays that have been arranged by families who have lived in the village for generations. There will also be 4-H displays in the newly renovated Pioneer Rooms.

The day's events will get started around 9:30 am with the bake sale. The firemen are also hosting a smoked pork chop BBQ; advance tickets need to be purchased for this portion of the events - tickets can be purchased by calling Buchanan at 519-539-8377. There is live entertainment planned for the evening with Eagles tribute band Hotel California hitting the stage. There will also be a fireworks display at dusk.

The five villages in Norwich Township take turns in planning the Canada Day festivities each year. Buchanan, along with her Co-Chair Nathan Wade and their committee are handling this year's planning but as Buchanan points out, it is still a Township event. "We really have everyone from within Norwich Township and beyond as well that come out and make it a really great event. We always joke, especially for the parade, we're never really sure if there's going to be anybody to watch the parade because everyone will be in it. So it's really great that everyone from the surrounding communities comes out to share in the celebrations."

Click here for a link to Norwich Township events page.