SARAH WILLIAMS

STAFF WRITER

Despite an unprecedented disruption to daily life in Canada, the Picton Canada Day Committee has decided to funnel some of the money commonly used for Main Street festivities in order to offer a virtual County-wide celebration. Despite COVID-19, people can still look forward to celebrating Canada Day, albeit in a slightly different fashion.

Beginning June 1, the committee is encouraging everyone to regale anything from their homes and porches to their dogs and cats with Canadiana.

“Wave your Canadian Flag proudly. Light your house up in red and white. The key is to be visible and creative and paint the town red and white,” they wrote.

Residents are also encouraged to take photos of their patriotic creations and post to social media (Facebook or Instagram) with the tag @CanadaDayPEC.

Each entry will be entered into a weekly draw for a $100 gift card to any local, County based store. There will be five draws, the first four being drawn on Fridays. The final draw will be done live on Canada Day, with the help of Back Forty Productions.

The most extravagant and outlandish entries will be featured in a surprise Canada Day virtual presentation.

For the kids of the County, Jeannette Arsenault will be a colouring contest sponsored by Jeanneatte Arsenault and This Is My Canada/Mon Cher Canada. Any children aged 0-17 are encouraged to draw what it means to them to be Canadian. These drawings can then be posted on the Canada Day PEC Facebook Page and tagged @CanadaDayPEC.

Kids will be entered into a separate draw on Canada. Kids are also encouraged to participated with song, dance, funny video etc if they don’t feel comfortable drawing. Of course, all submissions must be done with parental consent.

Once again, the committee has paired with Boxtopia, who will also be running a kids contest, the details of which should be available soon.

Leading up to Canada Day, the committee is also hoping residents will take to the sidewalks with chalk and colour Main Streets in the County with various Canadian sayings and art.

“We want to see the sidewalks, the curbs and the parking spots all filled with colour and artwork. Let’s fill Prince Edward County with Canadian celebration,” said the committee.

Artwork and other festivities aside, the major attraction of the virtual Canada Day Celebrations will be an online party with some of the County’s biggest musical acts. Thanks to Back 40 Productions, Canada Day can still be a party.

“We can’t all be together,” the committee stated, “but we can still celebrate as though our hearts were connected.”