Drums, lion dancers and dragon entertain Elk Point crowd on Canada Day

Vicki Brooker Jul 6, 2024 11:13 AM
Three dancing lions from the Hong De Cultural and Athletic Association performed an unforgettable and exciting routine following the six-minute Canada Day Drumming event. ▲
Vicki Brooker photo Six members of the Hong De Cultural and Athletic Association gave a flawless performance of the Dragon Dance for the Canada Day crowd. ▲
MLA Scott Cyr, NCCC Edmonton President Dr. Donald Yu, Rhonda Jackson of Saddle Lake Cree Nation, Frog Lake First Nation Chief Gregory Desjarlais, University of Alberta Associate Dean of Native Studies Dr. Paul Gareau and Elk Point Deputy Mayor Wanda Cochrane all added their drumming as they followed Mayor Parrish Tung around the Warrior Drums during Elk Point’s part of the National Simultaneous Canada Day Drumming 2024 event.▲
A young driver gets a little extra power to help her make it to the finish line in the June 30 Soapbox Derby.▲
The smallest entry in the June 30 Soapbox Derby had no trouble maneuvering between the pylons on the course that reached from the A. G. Ross Arena to the F. G. Miller High School parking lot.▲
Soapbox Derby organizer Tim Smereka presented the trophy to winner Todd Wilkins, with the top time of 31.71 seconds, Matt Doiron placing second with 35.05 and Dallan Wandler placing third with 43.96 seconds; at right is Age 13-17 winner Ryan Urquhart, not shown: Age 9 – 12 winner Ella May.▲
Team D and Team C hit the North Hill diamond in the championship final game of the June 20 Slo-Pitch tournament after both teams won games in the round robin, with Doug Bassett as the umpire for the final.▲
Team C was the big winner in the June 30 Slo-Pitch Championship Final, winning half the entry fees from the tournament, with the matching sum of $430 donated to the Elk Point Fire Department. Kade Fontaine was the winner of the evening’s Home Run Derby.▲
Vicki Brooker photo The small but mighty duo of Aspyn and Gunner Kelly give a tractor tire a big heave –ho as they compete in the Canada Day Family Challenge. ▲
Evett and Misty Smereka gear up to do some steer roping in the Canada Day Family Challenge.▲
Family Challenge winners sporting their medals on the podium were, left to right: Marcus and Hunter Pankiw, taking home silver with a time of 3:10, Rocky and Tucker Pankiw, winning gold with a time of 2:58 and Stewart and Jared Povaschuk with the bronze and a very close time of 3:11, with their coach Jim Povaschuk.▲

ELK POINT – A very special addition to the Canada Day lineup in Elk Point brought a huge crowd to the Alberta Centennial Stage immediately after the parade, quickly overflowing the bleachers and forming a huge semicircle of lawn chairs and grass sitters before a pair of jets from CFB Cold Lake swept over the scene in a fly past and mistress of ceremonies and Canada Day Committee chair Wanda Cochrane took the microphone to introduce some very special guests.

A pair of Hong De Lion Dancers led the grand entry as Cochrane introduced Dr. Donald Yu, president of the Edmonton Chapter of the National Congress of Chinese Canadians (NCCC), Frog Lake First Nations Chief Gregory Desjarlais, Rhonda Jackson of Saddle Lake Cree Nation #125, Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr and Dr. Paul Gareau, Associate Dean of Native Studies at the University of Alberta.

Scarlet-coated RCMP officers stood at attention as the Canada flag was slowly hoisted up the pole by Brielle Collins and Ethan Lorenson as Rhonda Jackson and the Edmonton Chinese Choir sang ‘O Canada.’

Mayor Parrish Tung, Dr. Yu, Dr. Gareau, MLA Cyr and Chief Desjarlais all brought greetings before the Hong De Cultural and Athletic Association Warrior Drummers led the entire assembly, the dignitaries with their own commemorative drums and the audience all provided with miniature handheld drums inscribed, “Drum together for Canada and world harmony” in Elk Point’s six-minute part of the Canada Day Drumming 2024 National Simultaneous Drumming.

The Warrior Drummers accompanied a group of the Hong De athletes in their beautiful and complicated Dragon Dance before the Wellness Sports Club demonstrated their peaceful and rhythmic Tai Chi moves. Then it was time for three huge and energetic Hong De lions - two gold and one scarlet - to burst on the scene with their exciting and crowd-pleasing dance, coming close to the crowd to wiggle their eyebrows, wag their tails and toss tiny souvenirs.

Sessions of drumming by the Warrior Drums and folk songs by the Edmonton Chinese Choir wrapped up the performance, with the visitors staying around much of the afternoon to enjoy the food, entertainment and mini market before heading back to Edmonton.

 

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