Come for the parade, stay for Ontario's Greatest Woman and some "jagged rock", organizers of East York Canada Day celebrations say.
There will be much to do in Stan Wadlow Park between 11 a.m., when the two-hour parade from Broadview Avenue and Danforth Road arrives and 10 p.m., when fireworks start.
Rock fans can see East York bands at an afternoon showcase, including oldmandog, an indie trio which played its "jagged rock" at Toronto's North-By-Northeast this year.
"Every act that performs is from the area, so they're local born and bred," said Danny Monette, who has hosted the Canada Day venue for local talent since volunteering his own group, The Unseen Guest, three years ago.
"East York is a solid rock and roll community", he said Thursday, noting the legendary Canadian rock band Triumph performed its first show for a Canada Day crowd here.
Oldmandog is particularly happy to perform at a Canada Day festival they have been attending since childhood, Monette said.
The rock groups must share the stage with many cultural performances at the Cosburn Avenue park, where celebrants can also hear the East York Concert Band, the Canadian Youth Choir and a reggae "island style" musical treat.
Depending on their inclinations, festivalgoers can meet Second World War veterans from 1 to 3 p.m. in the park clubhouse, try out a portable skateboard park, see lifesaving demonstrations at the Kiwanis Pool or listen to a talk on "Emotional Fitness for Men" in the arena.
Naturally, there will be a Kiwanis Bingo tent, the Lions Club Fish Tank and an expanded midway, open this year until midnight.
And at some point, Ontario's Greatest Woman, brainchild of Toronto-Danforth MPP Marilyn Churley, will be announced to the crowd.
Voting at
www.marilynchurley.com is brisk and Churley's own choice to win - politician Agnes Macphail - is no secret.
"East Yorkers better get their votes in for Aggie," the New Democrat MPP said this week.
"They've got until the end of June and that's it."
Churley said she loved The Greatest Canadian on CBC this year but was disappointed no women made it to the contest's Top 10. After more than 80 nominations and hundreds of votes, Churley's Top 10 has such luminaries as activist and journalist June Callwood and Laura Secord, hero of the War of 1812.
Though she wouldn't reveal the standings, Churley confirmed Macphail, who she calls her role model, was not in the lead.
As Canada's first female MP, Macphail fought for prison reform and women's suffrage. She's also the first women to sit in the Ontario legislature, elected to serve East York.
"She was a trailblazer," Churley said.
"She was witty, she was strong, she was articulate and she never backed down."
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