Residents in Norwich Township may have a case of deja vu for Canada Day this year.
While the rest of the country celebrates Canada Day on Sunday, July 1, the small community in Oxford County plans to celebrate Canada’s birthday on Monday, July 2, this year.
The decision has left some in the community, located south of Woodstock, Ont., scratching their heads while others are upset.
“It should be on July 1st because it’s Canada’s birthday. That’s all there is to it,” said Chris, a Norwich resident who declined to give his last name while speaking with 980 CFPL on Wednesday.
Canada Day celebrations are being planned by a community group made up of volunteers.
Some in the community are wondering if the celebrations have been moved away from Sunday for religious reasons.
Not so, according to Kyle Kruger, Norwich Township’s chief administrative officer.
“The committee wasn’t approached by any members of any congregation or any individuals to move the date,” he said.
Kruger does admit there are many in the community whose religious beliefs are central to their way of life.
“There’s no doubt there is a fair contingent of congregations locally that certainly have some restrictions on what they are able to do relative to celebrations on Sundays,” he said.
The last time Canada Day fell on a Sunday was in 2012, but Chris doesn’t recall this being an issue at that time.
“It’s a holiday on Sunday, July 1st. I don’t recall it being an issue six years ago.”
Kruger says the organizing committee had issues booking locations and talent for an event on July 1, so for practical reasons, they moved celebrations to July 2. The committee didn’t begin meeting until late January but Kruger wouldn’t say if they started their preparations too late.
“I don’t know if it would have made a difference or not. It may have,” he said. “There were reasons why, and it’s certainly not these community members who had any issue with it being slightly later than the norm in getting it up and running.”
In light of the negative reaction to the choice of day, Kruger says the organizing committee is meeting to reconsider its options.
As far as Norwich resident Marilyn Robillard is concerned, it doesn’t matter when they celebrate Canada’s birthday.
“It doesn’t bother me. If it’s going to be Sunday, fine. If it’s going to be Monday, let it be Monday. It doesn’t matter to be one bit. I’ll take part no matter what.”
Fellow resident Edith Cavin feels Canada Day should be celebrated on July 1, but knows what she’ll be doing that day regardless.
“We’re lawn bowlers. We usually lawn bowl on Canada Day. We have a contest for who has the best costume.”