Thousands of people are expected to mark Canada Day Friday at Diefenbaker Park where the Saskatoon Optimist Club will put on its annual celebration, according to event organizers.
“It’s one of those great days where you can feel like being part of a big community,” said Brad Sylvester, the event’s co-chair.
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Sylvester said this year’s fireworks display will be the biggest and most spectacular in the event’s history. He has been involved with the celebration since 1994.
“It’s going to be a really good show,” Sylvester said of the fireworks.
The number of new Canadians who attend the annual event has increased over the year, said Sylvester.
“Folks who are just landed in Canada, this is an important event for them to come and be a part of,” he said.
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For those who stay until the end of the fireworks display, Saskatoon Transit has added four special bus routes to take riders home. The busses will end at the Lawson, Confederation and Centre Mall terminals. Another will stop at Berini Dr. and 115th Street. Access Transit will also extend its service hours.
“We’re trying to be there to help people enjoy things, trying to take some of the complication out of their lives if they want to use transit,” said Jim McDonald, the City of Saskatoon transit director.
For those bringing pets to Diefenbaker, the Saskatchewan SPCA recommends keeping them on a leash.
“Pets may not necessarily like the booms, explosions and pops that come with the celebratory mood of fireworks,” said Josh Hourie the Saskatchewan SPCA community relations coordinator.
“Those loud noises could be enough to trigger a response that will see the pet run away.”
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Hourie said it would be easiest for pet owners to leave their animals at home. If a resident is setting off fireworks in their yard, he advised keeping pets indoors, with the curtains closed and ambient noise playing.
There may be a number of people in Saskatoon who put on their own fireworks display. Brent Davis with Bazaar and Novelty said customers have been looking for the product during the entire month of June.
“Flashing lights and makes noise right, people like that and they like making noise to celebrate that their Canadian Day,” Davis said.
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