CASSIAR_ CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS

Despite threatening skies and cool winds the citizens of Cassiar turned out in force and created
and enjoyed a day to remember on the occasion of Canada's 100th birthday.

From the very young to the very mature all seemed to participate and all seemed to be happy in
the day-long festivities which were held.

The rolling thunder of Norm Kipnis' 100 gun (?) salute roused us around 8:00 a.m., then
followed an inter-denominational church service, which was well attended by people of all
faiths. The service was conducted jointly by Reverend Foster and Father McAllister.

Sharp at 12:30 p.m. (well, maybe a quarter to one) the mammoth Cassiar Centennial Parade got
underway. The display was wonderful for its size, color, design and enthusiasm. It was obvious
that the many groups and families had taken the challenge seriously and had produced by much
acitivity, planning and plain sweat, floats worthy of the occasion. It was a shutter-bugs
delight and a tremendous effort on the part of all who took part. :

Following the parade a brief opening ceremony was held. Debby Royds, the Centennial Queen,
looking marvellous in her new hair-do, and escorted by Curtis Flanagan, read a short opening
address, following which the choir, under Reg Hewett, sang "O Canada". The crowd joined

in the singing and were thrilled by the sight of George Flake, resplendent in R.C.M.P. dress
scarlet, unfurling Canada's flag and giving a smart salute. Following the ceremony both

Debby and Constable Flake were given much attention by Cassiar photographers.

After the opening ceremonies the many booths and sporting attractions were popular and many
were the "Tostadas", hot dogs, corn-on-the-cob, sandwiches, and soft drinks which were
vended and consumed.

Kip Dougherty was a mainstay in the sporting events and proved a capable anchor man in the
tug-of-war contests although the muscle and weight of the mine team easily overcame all
opposition. The afternoon was given over to sports,-with several exciting and well played
fastball games rounding out the program.

In the evening, following a sumptuous banquet prepared in the open by our Cordner, Hubert
and Bond employees, the citizens were further entertained at a popular dance in the
Community Club Hall. The day was a tremendous success.

This was a great day for Canada and for the people of Cassiar. Perhaps the meaning of the
day was best expressed by Debby Royds, the Centennial Queen, in her opening address:-

"This great country of ours cannot, as many other nations of the world do, trace our origins
back many centuries. Indeed, among the nations of the world Canada is yet an infant.

We gather today, as do people all over our ten provinces and two territories, to celebrate our
attainment of the first 100 years as a nation.

We are a great nation. We're among world leaders in standard of living, in trading and
commerce, in education and scientific research, and in the exploration and development of
our natural resources. .

Our counsel is listened to and accepted in the U.N. We have produced what is probably the
most magnificent and meaningful exhibition in Expo 67, of man's purpose in the world and of
how people from every country can, given the willingness to try, work together at peaceful
endeavours.

All this was accomplished by people, Canadian now, but from as many diverse nations as
exist in the world.

Many of you here today are not native born to Canada but you are Canadians now and you and
your descendents do Canada great honor by selecting this country as your own and by devoting
your skills and your lives to Canada's growth.

Canada is not a country without problems. Since Confederation there have been regional and
governmental differences but few countries in the world can show as good a record of solving
these differences by peaceful democratic means, and few countries in the world have attained,
in spite of such difficulties, the advanced state of nationhood that Canada has.

On this our celebration of 100 years of successful growth and accomplishment we must, however,
not dwell on the past but look to the future.