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July 1i 1867 By Brian Wmnter Town of Whitby Archivist The first Canada Day (or Dominion Day as it was then called) was celebratead in' grand style in Whitby, to mark the birth of our country. As many as 8,000 people crowded into the town to witness the epecial events arr-anged by the Town counicil and the council of the County of Ontarjo. f Members of the 34th Battalion of Volunteer Militia from Whitby, Oshawa, Greenwood, Columbue Broollin and Uxbridgé were dressec in their red uniforme. Prom Markhazn, Major Button'e troop of Cavalry were dreseed in blue uniforme. Both the battalion and the troop were special guests of the day. Folowing 'a l1cheon for the volunteere at the Mechanice' Institute Hall at the corner of Byron and Mary streets where Pearson Lanee je located today the more than 350 soldiers assemÏled on 'the commons' between Chestnut St. and Rossland Rd. to fight a eham battie. The proceedinge began wth the firing of a 'feu de joie' to salute the new Dominion Canaa followed by a realietic ena.ctmnent of the'typeOf battie the soldiere had fough at Ridgeway againet the Fenians the previous year. When the Markham cavalry charged, a cow grazng on the'*field- took fright and dashed down the bill, right into the crowd. The soldiere demonstrated the formation of squares and other fighting techniques of the 19th centr, after which they were treated to a supper at the Mechamics Hall as gueste o f the Town of Whitby. Col. Sulas B. Fairbanks of Oshawa was the commanding offioer of the 34th Battalion, which je now, 125 years later, the Ontario Regiment. A field day was then held at the Athletic Gounde (now Centennial Park), featuring three-legged races, sack races, hurle races and the high jump. As darknees fell, a torchlight prcsin formed in front of the Chrnile office on Brock St., norih of the > Royal Hotel and marched throuh the streets of the Town headed by the Whitby Brase Band and the 34th Battalion Band. This was followed by a fireworks' display, set off in a field north of the foundry on Brock St. N. In the eveming John Ham Perry'e 'castle' located wfiere the swimning MOoIs now in Kinsmen Park,, was fioodlit with gas. ights to celebrate the occasion.1 Throughout.the day, the Town cannon, made seven years previously for theevisit of the Prince of Wales, was f ired continiuously and the Whitby -Brase Band played in front of the Town's hotels. Everyone agreed that the firet Canada Day a h greateet event Whitby had witnessed since the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1860. A, few of 'the 'soldiers nursed bloody noses because of the intensity of the action in the shami battle, but there were no serioue injuries., The weather was excellent for that day, Monday1 Juy 1, 1867, 125 yersao~asWitycelebrated Ceanaa's bxIrth as a pub lic holiday.. Members of the orgauzinj. committee were Mayor Rob rtJ Gunn and the Town council, MaWor James Wallace, Ca pt. George -H. Dartnell and Cat.*Narles A. Jones of the 34th l3aàttalion, Yeoman Gibson, Samuel, H. Cochrane, Huh J. Macdonell, Hugh /Fraser:, John Vandal Ham, Jr., and Robert H. Lawder, all leading citizens of the Town. s. ~TWNE & COUNTRY? INSURNELD. rLG.A. Plaza, 370 *Broclc St. S Downtown Whitby Monday to Saturday 8:00 a mi. to 6-.00 p.yn. S4-30TOWN 896.1 ýEdward F.Ninacs, 0 D. Optometrist I Brook Building, Suite 300I '101 Dundàs$t..W. I WYhitby -668'.4479 413 Dunda Stk LE 668-88 65 HAPPYI C tIWO~N REALTOR' B I RTH DAY I ~ CANADA! Docétor Larry, Grée naI'nd's ffc HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ',CANADA!,, com~terservices j 306 Brook St. N" .,Whitby 666-356 22O,,,Dundas St. W, Whitby ýH Happy-Birthday lCanadau . .......CONRATULATIONS.CND" i- "We. are Proud to be, Caniadians ~ Mayor,. Council nd iien fWhitb Wh itby Frcc Prcss - Canada 125 il