When the Canada Day festivities roll into town this July 1, you can expect the mantra ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ to rule the day. Organizers for the parade are stating that while there are some new activities and events coming in for the day, overall, the parade, fire works, games, beer gardens, and fun will probably be a lot like last year.

Take for instance, Larry Wynn, something of an institution at the parade. Born and raised in Jasper,  Wynn will be leading the Canada parade during the festivities, just like he has done for more than forty years.

“It’s just fun to be a part of the band.” said  Wynn who will be heading the Bye The Way drum and bag pipe five-member band.  Wynn, who has led the parade since 1965 (“Almost every year, but its been so long I can’t remember the ones I missed,” he said) said that taking part in the parade is incredibly important to him.

“I lived here all my life and this is just a way of paying some respect,” said  Wynn. He’ll be out there beating the drum, a reminder of Jasper’s close knit sense of community and civic engagement.

Barb Barker, co-chair of the Jasper Canada Day Committee that helps to organize the day, said that some small things about the day’s events will be changing, but not drastically. 

The theme of this years festivities is the Great Canadian Outdoors, which is different from last year, so the parade and a lot of the activities near the Visitor Centre Park will  differ by design in a lot of small ways.

As well, the Canadian Canoe Polo Team is coming to town to paddle their kayak-sized nautical vessels in the town swimming pool. The team, who are based out of Olds, is close to becoming officially sanctioned as a Canadian National team, said Barker. She said that she doesn’t think a lot of people even know about canoe polo (it is also called kayak polo), so heading over to the aquatic centre to see something of that sort might be interesting for the curious.

However, many of the other traditions that make up Canada Day in Jasper are going to remain the same.

Barker said the $10,000 fireworks display planned for nightfall in Centennial Park is still a go and Barker is hoping for a clear night so that fireworks and the mountains behind them can be seen together in splendor.

“We order them [the fireworks] from Prince George and they’re going to be beautiful,” said Barker.

As well, the Kamloops Rube Band, a whacky and zany marching band complete with clowns, oboes, tubas and players in everything from Raggedy Andy wigs to sailor suits, will be returning this year.

“Last year they had a gentleman in a grass skirt, and coconuts and a black wig and it was just a hoot,” said Barker.

As well, many local businesses who appeared in the parade last year will be appearing in there again.

“There will be something going on all day,” she added. “It’s going to be a lot of fun we hope.”