The organizers of the annual Canada Day celebrations in Barrhaven say they’re stepping back from the 44-year-old event but still hope someone can fill their shoes next year.<\/p>\n
In a statement on its website, Canada Day Barrhaven announced the non-profit will not be organizing any celebrations in 2027.<\/p>\n
“Our lungs can’t hold the capacity they did before,” said Darrell Bartraw, the group’s president for the last 16 years.<\/p>\n
“Basically we are absolutely tired and [have] no new young blood coming in \u2014 at least none that are willing to step up and run the whole event,” Bartraw told CBC. “That takes a person that’s got an absolute lot of time on their their plate.”<\/p>\n
According to the statement, Canada Day Barrhaven had tried for years to recruit new volunteers and leaders but couldn’t find anyone with the capacity to organize and operate the event.<\/p>\n
But since putting out that statement, Bartraw said he’d heard from a number of people interested in taking the reins.<\/p>\n
“I’m going to meet with all these people and … I am 100 per cent sure there will be a Canada Day in Barrhaven next year,” he said.<\/p>\n
2026 event almost cancelled<\/p>\n
The celebration partially went ahead this year, though the fireworks were cancelled due to torrential Canada Day rainstorms that drenched the Ottawa area<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bartraw said the event was almost cancelled outright due to financial difficulties more than two months ago, when its midway provider pulled out.<\/p>\n