Thousands of people were packed shoulder-to-shoulder in Memorial Peace Park last Saturday as they watched several award-winning bands serenade the city on its 150th birthday.
Despite the downpour that made things a little soggy for the first couple of hours of the event, Mayor Dan Ruimy said that the Our Neck of the Woods celebration was a massive success, drawing in 15,000 people throughout the day.
"We couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate our city’s 150th anniversary," said Ruimy.
"From the opening welcome by the Katzie First Nation at noon to the final notes of The Strumbellas’ performance, this was a day filled with wonderful memories as we delivered the biggest birthday party in the city’s incorporation while honouring Katzie and Kwantlen First Nations since time immemorial."
In addition to Ruimy, several other dignitaries also took the stage to give some opening remarks, including Premier David Eby and MLAs Lisa Beare and Bob D'Eith.
A variety of entertainment was sprinkled throughout downtown on Sept. 14, which included musical performances on three different stages, a food truck festival, the Haney Farmers Market, a car-free zone with historic buses, a campfire story area, and much more.
One of the most popular attractions was the zipline that ran down 224 Street, with there being near-constant lineups throughout most of the day.
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"This event is a way for those of us who live here to celebrate this special place and invite our friends and families and neighbours from the region to experience the history, beauty, and hospitality of our community, and see firsthand what is so fantastic about Maple Ridge," said Ruimy.
Once the sun set, even more musical acts took to the main stage, with George Leach, Dawn Pemberton, Aaron Pritchett, and The Strumbellas all giving heartfelt performances.
"When council took the stage before The Strumbellas set to thank our sponsors, there were people as far as the eye could see in Memorial Peace Park,” said Ruimy. “The energy was electric as the crowds danced and sang together. Feedback on the event has been overwhelmingly positive, with people sharing they want more of these events."
