There will be 10,000 paper Canada flags available to Orillia residents next weekend ahead of July 1 festivities.
Brian Hare, Manager of Operations for the Orillia Canada Day committee, handed out 1,000 Canada Day flags around this time last year.
“As part of our federal heritage grant, we get sent flags each year for Canada Day festivities," Hare explained. "What I’m handing out now is a surplus of flags from the last couple of years that we couldn’t hand out."
This year Hare will be giving the flags away as a private citizen and not as a member of the Canada Day committee.
“If everyone pulls up, I will give them all out, I have them in bundles of ten,” he said.
The giveaway will be happening on June 26 from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. or until there are no flags left. Hare will be giving the flags away while masked in his driveway at 97 Dunlop St.
“People love receiving these flags, it’s so nice to see all the smiles when they pull into my driveway,” Hare said.
Hare will also be making his rounds to local nursing and retirement homes to make sure local seniors get a flag for Canada Day.
“Next week I will be calling around to the different homes to figure out how many flags they need, and then I put them in bags and deliver them,” Hare said.
While the flags bring people some joy and Canadian spirt, Hare says the regular Canada Day celebrations at Couchiching Beach Park are greatly missed.
“It’s left a big hole and people are disappointed,” Hare said.
“People look forward to the fireworks, the cake, a day at the park, it’s a giant community wide party and we try to make it a family-oriented day that has something for everyone."
The 11-year committee member says handing out flags serves as a reminder that he and other Canada Day volunteers haven’t given up, and once it is deemed safe to do so once again, July 1 festivities will resume down at the park.
“When my kids were small somebody was doing what I’m doing now. This is my way to pay it forward so younger families can enjoy Canada Day in Orillia again one day,” Hare said.
“Without the volunteers, it just wouldn’t happen.”
