By C.W. (Gus) Este

This recount is certainly not a true historical documentation of the event. There are no accurate records nor references with which to test the accuracy of the story told. It is truly an anecdotal recall, which relies upon the memory, or lack of same, by this writer. Its intent is to paint a picture of the growth of Canada Day In Barrhaven, in-line with the population explosion that Barrhaven has experienced as a community over three decades.

The Barrhaven Community Association (BCA) was formed in the late seventies. Two very involved members of the community, Paul Horne a local school teacher was the president and George Galbraith a local businessman served as the vice president. Some other key members were Jan Harder, Doug Collins, Tom O'Neil and Gus Este.

The BCA was sustained by voluntary household membership fees of $10.00 per year. Its mandate was to be a liaison between the Township of Nepean under Reeve Andrew Haydon, which shortly thereafter became the City of Nepean, under Mayor Ben Franklin.

Another role was to create activities for youth in the community including sports, library services and social events for the entire (village) of Barrhaven. Some of the first events took place in the only school that was available at the time, Barrhaven Public. Others took place in Larkin House which was quite tiny and some held by the city at the Mowat Barn. Once the Walter Baker Centre and the Barrhaven Mall were built, the BCA and other groups became very active. Many dances conducted by the social chair., Vivien Voisey, were always sold out with capacity crowds in attendance.

All the while limited Canada Day activities involved small fireworks displays in the area that was vacant above and beside the Walter Baker Centre, at the golf driving rage which still exists at the intersection of Grreenbank and Jockvale and later at Foxfield Park where the hilly slopes provided a natural amphitheatre. Local resident, Danny Ryan, setup and coordinated the fireworks display until they became too dangerous to the encroaching newly-built homes. At the fireworks BCA members circulated collection boxes for donations towards the display.

In the spring of 1980 Vice president of the BCA, George Galbraith, formed a Lions Club in the community. They began to hold Canada Day activities on the Barrhaven Mall parking lot. They included a parade of the provincial and Canada flags, singing of our national anthem at 12 noon and Canada birthday cake for all in attendance. In the mid eighties, the Lions ran a raffle draw from which they donated a little over $2500 to the BCA to allow the continuance of the local firework displays. For two years the fireworks move away from Barrhaven to the Nepean Sportplex on Woodroffe. They them moved to Clarke Field, our current location for a few years but were again discontinued because of risk to persons and property.

The modern Canada Day in Barrhaven is the baby of Ottawa Councillor Jan Harder. She became the driving force in integrating various persons and groups into the exciting program we have witnessed over the past few years. Additionally she "puts her money where her mouth is" using personal funds from her own pocket and her constituency budget into maintaining the program. She has coaxed some of the local enterprises into becoming involved as sponsors, most notably Mattamy and other builders, the Community Associations, the West Barrhaven Community Association, the Barrhaven BIA and the Barrhaven Lions, Branch 641 Barrhaven Legion and other local service clubs. She also was able to get City allowances to safely set off fireworks from the nearby snow dump.

We now expect crowds exceeding 30,000 persons and multicultural activities are included to take place concurrently. This has allowed us to seek and receive substantial funding from Heritage Canada, which is a Government of Canada organization. Those of us that were there at the beginning find it difficult to realize the magnitude of growth – it has been overwhelming and fantastic.

Hope to see you there on Canada Day 2010!