Three long-standing and beloved community festivals have been recognized with this year’s Delta Friends of Heritage awards.
At the March 11 council meeting, Mayor George Harvie presented the awards to representatives from the Ladner Pioneer May Days, Tsawwassen Sun Festival and North Delta Family Day.
“This year we [council] have decided to recognize the people who strengthen community traditions by carrying on long-standing community celebrations, one of which goes back to the late 1800s,” said Harvie. “In keeping with this year’s Heritage Week theme, these volunteers continue the thread of stories that celebrate each community’s unique past and present.”
The longest-running community festival, Ladner Pioneer May Days, began in 1896.
This year May Days will be celebrated from Friday, May 24 through Sunday, May 26.
“It has brought the community together for over a century to celebrate, share their stories and enjoy events,” added Harvie.
Tsawwassen Sun Festival, celebrated during the August long weekend, evolved out of other community events that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s.
North Delta Family Day, which will be celebrated this year on Sunday, June 23, began in 1967 as a celebration marking Canada’s centennial. More than 50 years later it continues to bring the community together with a parade and a festival in North Delta Community Park, said Harvie.
“It takes a tremendous amount of work and commitment to coordinate all of these activities and I applaud the work of these committees,” said Harvie.
