Looking at yesteryear through the eyes of a post-Second World War youngster, the month of May was always exciting.
The European war ended in May 1945 and with daylight savings time, May was a month with all sorts of activity. Those were the days before TV and electronic gadgets. It was about the outdoors, swimming in the Fraser River and local beaches, and organized teams of soccer, baseball and fast pitch. The high school track meets loomed large, culminating in the Fraser Valley championships.
The most heralded community event was the celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday. Eagerly anticipated since its inception in 1896, the ceremony started with a lengthy parade from downtown Ladner to Memorial Park. The earliest parades were led by Delta's brass band founded in 1891 by F.W. Harris.
The parade was well attended by local politicians, one I recall riding on the back of a manure spreader,
thought by many to be appropriate transportation. Delta's three communities were represented by floats decorated by various churches and organizations.
The highlight was Delta's May Queen and princesses selected from Delta's elementary schools. Delta's first May Queen in 1896 was Mabel Matheson. The same format remains in place with the parade and the newly selected queen and her court presiding over the festivities in Memorial Park.
Following the "Queen's" much anticipated address, the ceremony was concluded by students in grades 3 and 4 celebrating the occasion with the maypole dance. Delta teachers were very much involved, school principals George Campbell, Lawrence Goodwin and more recently Bill Kushnir acting as masters of ceremony.
All schools participated in the selection of their representatives to the celebration. I recall teachers, Miss Ivy Stokes and Mrs. Dean, rigorously preparing students for the maypole dance, with anxious parents watching the complicated routines.
The day's activities for kids included the 100-yard dash by age group, where the winner received a silver dollar, and fun races, the sack and three-legged races, egg and spoon, etc. The day's athletic events concluded with the adult two-mile race where we watched
our fathers, uncles and older siblings compete.
The celebration concluded with the evening May Day Ball and Grand March held at Ladner Community Hall. The queen and her escort, Reeve Kirkland, led off this formal affair, followed by her princesses and their escorts in a grand procession around the hall, accompanied by rousing marching music.
The celebration of May Day has always been weather dependent. In 1953, the much-anticipated May Day was cancelled due to rain, except for the evening's Grand March and dance held indoors. This was the year my wife was chosen to represent East Delta Elementary and, of course, the day for her was "totally" ruined.
Alas, her one day to be a princess in a parade, riding in an open car waving to her adoring subjects was not to be, a hard landing to reality at the age of nine.
May Day is fast approaching and hats off to all volunteers for your time commitments to this major undertaking. This year's event is organized by Jackey Zellweger, her last after five years at the helm and nine years in total. Jennifer Middleton assumes the chair with her 14 years of experience with the committee.
Enjoy the Ladner May Days celebration.
And a good night to you, Jackey.
