Two members from the Royal Mounted Canadian Police, also called Mounties, pose at the 64th Annual Great Canadian Picnic. (Photo by Elena Mendoza/Cronkite News)
People attending the 64th Annual Great Canadian Picnic enjoyed listening to live music. (Photo by Elena Mendoza/Cronkite News)
A girl plays in artificial snow at the 64th Annual Great Canadian Picnic at South Mountain Park. (Photo by Elena Mendoza/Cronkite News)
Attendees enjoy food and each others’ company at the 64th Annual Great Canadian Picnic. (Photo by Elena Mendoza/Cronkite News)
Poutine, French fries topped with gravy and cheese curds, are a popular Canadian snack offered at the 64th Annual Great Canadian Picnic. (Photo by Elena Mendoza/Cronkite News)
Face painting was among the activities at the 64th Annual Great Canadian Picnic. (Photo by Elena Mendoza/Cronkite News)
“Rock your maple leaf, get a little loonie.”
Linda Myers, who moved to the Valley 20 years ago from her native Ontario, wore a hat symbolizing the slogan at the Great Canadian Picnic. The red and white hat rocked a felt maple leaf, a national symbol of Canada.
“The Great Canadian Picnic is such a nice way to just see a lot of Canadians in one place,” said Myers, who has attended the annual event with her husband for six years. “We can all get together with them and soak up a little bit of Canadian culture that we certainly miss.”
Canadian families on Saturday sledded on a hill of artificial snow, danced to a live band, had their faces painted and chowed down on poutine, a familiar Canadian dish of French fries topped with gravy and cheese curds, with the peaks of South Mountain as a backdrop.
Canadians are common in the Valley.
According to the event website, the number of temporary Canadian residents peaks to 890,000 in the winter. About 128,000 Canadians live in Phoenix full-time.
The picnic was started in 1953 as a way for these local Canadians to enjoy each other’s company while they are away from home.
“It’s a day when Canadians aren’t invisible, we don’t blend in and we’re standing up and inviting people to enjoy what we enjoy at home,” Penelope Clark, who chairs the picnic, said.