The third annual May Day Community Heritage Picnic is being hailed as a success.
Karen Baker-MacGrotty, who along with her husband David MacGrotty started the event three years ago after the city eliminated the Royal Lancers dances from the city’s May Day banquet, said this year’s event attracted a record crowd of over 300 people at The Armoury of The Royal Westminster Regiment. She said attendees were delighted to witness the continuation of the century-old traditional Royal Lancer dances.
“Bringing together new families in our community with generations of Royal City May Day enthusiasts creates a wonderful opportunity to carry our traditions forward,” said Baker-MacGrotty, co-chair of the May Day Community Heritage Picnic. “By embracing the traditions, participants become part of our city’s history and cultural fabric. It was fantastic to see the joy on everyone’s faces, hear the laughter and experience the coming together of a strong community with a common bond. Best of all are the endless memories which we hope will last for generations to come. Let the traditions continue!”
Zoe Bishop, the city’s 2017 May Queen, and David MacGrotty, chair of the Royal Lancers, led the processional march-in and march-out to a cheering crowd of spectators who clapped along to the traditional music. Trey Sidhu, 2017 Royal Consort, and Daniel Karwowksi, 2016 Royal Consort, led the Royal Knight Honour Guard and trivia presentations.
“The afternoon picnic was full of enthusiasm, delicious foods, great music, dance, laughter and friendship,” said David MacGrotty, co-chair of the May Day Community Heritage Picnic. “It was a true community effort, and we are very appreciative to all families for helping continue our rich history and traditions.”
Organizers said this is a free and inclusive event that recreates, in a small way, the early beginnings of May Day 1870, when citizens of all ages gathered to welcome spring and build community spirit.
They said the day’s highlights included visits from former May Queens, live music from the band of The Royal Westminster Regiment, May Day trivia presented by the Royal Knights and the performance of the 2016 and 2017 May Queen Suites and the Royal Lancers of the traditional Royal Lancer “quadrille” dances.
With a theme of “Lift your spirit,” the picnic marked the final event of the May Day Week and the 46th annual Hyack Festival.
Prettying up the city
The City of New Westminster is trying to beautify the city – one basket at a time.
The parks and rec department recently wrapped up a series of classes where staff helped residents create hanging baskets like those adorning city streets. In addition to creating about 400 baskets for city spaces and local businesses, staff helped about 700 people make “gorgeous” hanging baskets.
“We were up by 70 baskets,” said Claude LeDoux, the city’s manager of horticulture. “They were extremely popular again. We are very impressed with the numbers.”
Lions lighting up pedestrians
The New Westminster Lions Club is on the hunt for pedestrians who use a cane or walker – and toddlers, too.
In an effort to improve pedestrians’ visibility when crossing roads, the Lions are offering to add high-quality reflective tape on canes or walkers, as well as children’s strollers and mobility scooters. It’s free, but donations are welcome towards the Lions’ projects in the community.
Venicio De Bortoli, manager of Buy-Low Foods in Westminster Centre, has made space available for the project. You can pop into Buy-Low Foods from 10 to 11 a.m. every Monday in June to get your reflective tape.
Westminster Centre is located at 555 Sixth St.
Festival returns to Queensborough
The city’s only children’s festival is coming to Queensborough this month.
The Queensborough Children’s Festival takes place on Saturday, June 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ryall Park, 920 Ewen Ave.
The event features an afternoon of entertainment and interactive fun, displays by about 25 different groups, a Young Entrepreneur marketplace where kids will be selling their own handmade products, and more.
