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The Windsor Canada day parade starts at 11:00 giving one ample time to amble to HMSC Hunter before the show starts and splurge $4.00 on the pancakes, sausage, and coffee breakfast which is hosted by the girl guides. The Route is north up Ouellette street, with the crowds tending to concentrate at the south end of the parade leaving ample space for those who dislike congestion further north. The civilised can enhance their enjoyment by watching from one of the many licenced patios lining the route. Pick your patio carefully and you can also watch the England - Portugal game on TV at the same time. The game was still a draw when the parade finished, but Portugal had the moral victory. The head of the column was graced by the police on their bikes weaving figures of eights. As befits a wild border city the leading units were formed by the customs and border security people marching to the skirl of the police band bagpipes. Ambulances and fire trucks were close behind as was a giant Canadian flag with kids running about underneath it. The parade marshal's car failed to provide her name but all other dignitaries were well tagged. There were a surprising number of VIPs The Mayor, all the Federal MPs and the Provincial MPPs, plus half the city council. There were very few marching bands this year and by the time they neared the end of the route some seemed a bit wilted. Possibly those crowded near the start of the parade got a better show. One small group with lots of vitality left was called ( and I hope I have this correct ) the black jazzmen. They worked the crowd into a frenzy of applause with their brief but exuberant performance on their horns. Commercial participation was restrained, and consisted of radio stations, marchers with banners, a peanut in a top hat, and a few miniature cars. There was an inflatable fat boy handing out something before the start of the parade, but I have no idea what. The other inflatable whose's purpose escaped me was the large tug boat. Omniscience is not one of my assets. A float predicting bed races starting at 1:00 I can understand. The cycling committee was present but failed to make much of an impression. They need to be more dramatic. The Knights of Columbus marching with drawn swords is always a colourful spectacle. Their banner proclaimed they were of the 4th degree. This means there must be three lower degrees which are shrouded in mystery. The other esoteric groups were the Masons and the shrine. The later on miniature motor bikes. The shrine truck proclaimed their support of child charities. A number of years ago the war amps changed their focus to helping child amputees and the amputees on their float always raises a cheer. I am vague on the number of ethnic groups. The particpants I can recall were the Chinese with dragons charging across the street, the Italian community, and I think the Polish, with girls in long blue dresses and white stockings. Elvis sightings were numerous as there were two in the parade and there was another Elvis in Dieppe park. The Elvis-fest car show next door included a Pinto, my first Canadian car.
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