      July marks the time for many fun summer activities, and once again, Canora in Bloom will be one of them, held from July 18 to 24.
           The events this year include both new and old favourites. Among the new events are free games and activities at the Canora Swimming Pool. Plastic cup races, egg tosses, sidewalk chalk drawing, and water balloon fights will be featured all afternoon on Wednesday, July 20. The pool will also be the location for free activities such as aquafit, public swims, open swims, sports days, and speed swimming over the week.
           Another exciting event will be the Golf Night, being held on July 19 starting at 6 p.m. at the Canora Golf and Country Club. Texas Scramble games will be played, and prizes are available to be won.
           The Canora Children’s Centre is holding a cookie sale and a garage sale to raise funds, and a pancake and sausage breakfast will be organized by the Canora Volunteer Fire Department. GX 94/Fox FM will be live on location, and the radio station will provide the supplies so that all proceeds can go towards the fire department.
           Other events include a hot dog dinner at the Visitor Information Centre and CN Museum, a borscht lunch put on by the Ukrainian Heritage Museum, pie sold by the Keen Age Centre, and a free barbecue on Friday afternoon. The Canora Public Library will hold a book and fabric sale starting the Canora in Bloom week and continuing into the summer.
           Two events on the weekend that always get a lot of attention are the family street dance and the parade. The dance will be held at the Sylvia Fedoruk Centre Friday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. There will also be a beer garden on site for guests 19 and over.
           The parade will be held on Saturday starting at the Town Hall, and will feature plenty of old time music entertainment. Jo-Anne Sigurdson, the organizer of the event, says that they are still looking for floats if anyone would like to register, and that she is particularly looking forward to dancing with the senior citizens who gather for the parade.
           Canora in Bloom will finally conclude on July 24 with a non-denominational church service and a Sunday brunch. Sigurdson is confident that as with other years, the event will have a great turnout, and she hopes that Canora citizens will leave that week open so they can all join in the fun.
