The full rich spectacle of East York’s chaotic rain-soaked Canada Day Parade is surely part of what make this land so great. TPS mounted police, motorcycle cops, the 236th Scout Troop of East York, Mayoralty candidate John Tory, sober Rob Ford and many other politicians, a Toyota dealership, helmeted, scarlet-trimmed and bicycle bell-ringing cyclists, the East York Historical Society, Mercy Marchers for God, Model T car owners and the East York Shriners driving little Shriner cars. There were kids, cats, canines and Maple Leaf flags just everywhere. And so it was that for the 57th consecutive year on Cosburn Ave. beside Dieppe Park the Canada Day parade was marshalled. Today the happy green space again belied the sorrowful battle of 1942 from which it gets its name. Last minute contingents or “units” as the parade marshall Christopher Salmond called them, herded their members from spot to spot as they tried to fit into the line already in place. “I’ll get ye in somewhere,” Salmond barked at a young woman representing who we’re not sure. It was a surprise to see Mr. Salmond present in this apparently traditional role. In recent weeks he has written online that his services were no longer wanted by the East York Canada Day Planning Committee. They had arbitrarily ended his term as “East York Canada Day Ambassador” he said. But there he was, as big as life. The parade and its revellers, headed off to Stan Wadlow Park for the day’s events in a drenching downpour that struck about 10.15 a.m. It is hot out there so to all those who celebrate our 147th year in that humidity, our best to you and Happy Canada Day from The South Bayview Bulldog. You make us great. Photos: top: bell-ringing cyclists, Mercy of God Church, Roller Girls consult, 236th Scouts. bottom: John Tory and friends, meet the (Ford) nation, Rob Ford, Parade Marshall de facto Christopher Salmond and supplicant
