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Water fights and food trucks: Kitimat residents celebrate Canada Day with sun and smiles

Celebrations still brought smiles and laughs, even if the day was a little different than usual
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Sandra Jomphe (L), Sarina Germuth, Elske Germuth, Finn Anderson, Sam Anderson, and Cheryl Martin waiting on the front lawn for Mayor Phil Germuth to come by for the annual Canada Day waterfight. (Clare Rayment)

The sun was shining, families were smiling, and the mayor was spraying people with a water gun. Despite the restrictions this year, Kitimat residents celebrated another fun-filled Canada Day, complete with many new and traditional celebration activities.

While activities including the parade and the fireworks couldn’t be held, the annual water fight with Mayor Germuth was a go, with families staying on their front lawns to main physical distancing.

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Mayor Germuth’s mother Elske and sister Sarina were out on the lawn with their neighbours Sandra Jomphe, Finn Anderson, Sam Anderson, and Cheryl Martin, ready for the chance to participate in the water fight.

“We’ve been doing the water fight with the mayor for as long as it’s been going on,” Sam Anderson said. Afterwards, Anderson said they were going to do the scavenger hunt and check out some food vendors.

“Yeah, definitely the food vendors!” Martin said.

“Because we’re hungry!” Anderson said.

Finn said that, while things are different this year, he still enjoys the chance to be outside with his family.

“[My favourite part is usually] the parade, but now it’s COVID-19 and I don’t get to see everyone,” Finn said. “But it still feels awesome! I love the great fresh air.”

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Along with the water fight, this year’s celebrations included cookie decorating, a scavenger hunt, and several food truck vendors, along with many other activities around town throughout the day.

Festivals Kitimat coordinator Sara Besler and her assistant Leila Hutson were out and about all day, taking pictures and videos of the different activities going on.

“Covid didn’t stop Kitimat from celebrating our beautiful country and the great community that we live in,” they wrote in a post on the Festivals Kitimat Facebook page. “I hope you all had a wonderful Canada day!!”

Overall Kitimat residents said they had a fun day and got to enjoy the sun while it was here. And the favourite part of the day?

“I don’t know,” Finn said. “All of it!”



clare.rayment@northernsentinel.com

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