NAKINA – Current and former residents along with members of other area communities were lining the streets of Nakina on Saturday to watch the 100th anniversary parade.
The parade is the centre point of the three-day-long centennial celebration of the founding of the community of Nakina.
“It’s a great chance for everyone to come and see each other again and spend some time in the community,” said James McPherson, mayor of the Municipality of Greenstone. “We've got a gorgeous day, fish derby, all the events, what more do you want? Families are out and the parade was great.”
Not only were residents and other locals in attendance, but many people who had moved away from the area returned to celebrate alongside their old neighbors, something that McPherson says goes to show the strong sense of community.
“As smaller communities, we all know each other, we've got family, we've got friends, and this is the opportunity to get to see everybody again,” he said. “And that's what I'm here for I'm looking to see people I went to school with.”
Matthew Donovan is the Nakina Ward Councillor, and he also worked on the 100th anniversary committee. He said that planning the celebrations has been a lot of work and hes glad for the support from other communities in the area.
“I hold a lot of hats here, I do a lot of things,” he said. “And I've never stood in public and not said that a a successful event here in Nakina is because we always partner with our sisters and brothers in Aroland and to have them part of our weekend here to as part of our celebration always means a lot to us whenever we're doing anything, and especially this weekend.”
The celebrations will continue on Sunday with a lot more activities and ending with a firework show that organizers said will definitely make up for the cancelled Canada Day firework show.