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Riley Olford shows his patriotism during last year's Canada Day celebration. - NNSL file photo |
Healthy foods at Canada Day Holiday celebration to include citizenship ceremony
Lyndsay Herman
Northern News Services
Published Friday, June 28, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Healthy food and a citizenship ceremony are two new additions to the City of Yellowknife's Canada Day celebrations planned for Monday from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. at Somba K'e Civic Plaza.
This year, the Community Services Department decided to extend its healthy and sustainable city event guidelines to the vendors serving at the celebration to mark Canada's 146th birthday.
"It's actually what we (city employees) are supposed to follow, but we decided to make it a requirement for our vendors," said Sandra Nielsen, the city's special events co-ordinator. "It simply says to reference the Canada Food Guide when you're making your menu selection and then refrain from serving beverages with high sugar additives."
Vendors are required to fill out an application form in order to serve at a city event. The application form goes over the terms and conditions - which include equipment requirements, set up and take down timelines, and space allocations - and asks information about the vendor.
Nielsen said no vendors had to be turned away due to unhealthy food items.
"Actually I would say everyone was very receptive to that," she said.
Non-profit organizations are particularly encouraged by the city to apply, since all proceeds can go toward their cause.
As of press deadline, the Canada Summer Games Men's basketball team and Bubble Tea North were the two vendors confirmed to be selling food at the city's Canada Day event.
BETTY House was still finalizing volunteers to serve chicken burgers and beef burgers to the hungry Canadians gathered at Somba K'e Civic Plaza but was on track to make it happen, said Dayle Hernblad, a fundraising ambassador for the organization and a representative of the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition.
"We are very excited to celebrate Canada Day with our community and certainly excited to celebrate the new construction of women's transitional housing," said Hernblad.
One of the opening events at this year's celebration is a reaffirmation ceremony, where Canadian citizens are encouraged to reaffirm their patriotism.
Nielsen said the city was contacted by Citizenship and Immigration Canada earlier this year with the suggestion to hold the ceremony and believes it is the first time the city has hosted one on Canada Day.
Mayor Mark Heyck will officiate the reaffirmation ceremony and in that role he'll read the oath of citizenship in sections, while those gathered repeat back the oath.
Kristina Stroman will subsequently sing the national anthem.
Stroman sang the national anthem at the Sangudo Speedway in Sangudo, Alta.
"It means a lot because I am very patriotic," said Stroman. "Definitely, it is an important day so to be asked to do such a thing is actually a great honour."
Musical performances, games, face and body painting, and other family friendly activities are scheduled until 4:00 p.m.
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