The long weekend weather was cool and rainy but during Canada Day in Acton the sun also came out to celebrate Canada's 141st birthday on Tuesday, July 1, 2008. Starting around 4 PM people started pouring into Prospect Park where just hours earlier families were swimming at the Prospect Park wading pool.

Heading down to the Rotary Club band shell area we found Josey Bonnette and the Acton BIA volunteers getting prepared with Canada Flags and pins ready to be handed out. The BIA sponsored a couple of bands to play at the band shell - One Nite Stand and the Bluesers. The entertainment started at 6 PM with a performance by the Robert Little School Everybody Dance Club and then followed with the bands.

The crowds start to arrive as the school dancers take to the stage. At the BIA booth volunteers hand out Canada flags and pins and blew bubbles for the small children. Erin is the Acton Leathertown Ambassador for 2007 - 2008 (with crown).

Then Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette started cutting the Canada Day birthday cake donated by Acton Sobeys as a hungry crowd descended on the table.

During the concert the Acton Firefighters Association members were busy setting up the fireworks at the point of Fairy Lake next to the well buildings. It takes a lot of hard work and sweat to get the mortar tubes buried into the ground, place the explosive fireworks and get the wiring all set.

Most of the large fireworks are placed in mortars set into the ground. A plow digs out the pit and the mortars are placed and the dirt compacted around the tubes. This show has been put on for about 30 years and each year gets better and better.

With the tubes in place the boxes of fireworks are brought out and the individual tubes are loaded. About 520 fireworks are used in the show - 160 of them are fired off during the spectacular finale.

The fireworks are then wired up and connected to the series of detonators.

Some of the members firefighting suits stand ready in case their is a fire and they get called out for an emergency.

For more coverage of the event continue to this page.