The 2016 Kinsmen Ladysmith Days Parade was overall a great success according to Kinsmen co-chairs Mike Sumpter and Duck Paterson.
There were over 40 entries, more than last year, even though some groups pulled out at the last minute. Sumpter said “this happens every year, but we also get entries that we don’t know about so it balances out.”
Paterson said “it’s really neat that even though it’s a long weekend, enough people go to all the time and effort to put something together so that the community can have a fun time. As the kick off to Ladysmith Days we really want the parade to be a hallmark event so we want to truly thank everyone and all the organizations and businesses that participate.”
Sumpter said that the Kinsmen tried very hard to get a band to come but with Sunfest on, as well as the Coombs Blue Grass and the Courtney Filberg Festivals all happening on the same weekend no bands were available.
“Overall though” Paterson said “we’re very happy with what the club and community has done and we’ll be back next year for more.”
As usual, the judges had a tough time determining the various category winners. Here’s their choices:
Marching-Dancing - Third, Cowichan Valley Firefighters Honour Guard; Second, Royal Canadian Legion Colour Party; First, Girl Guides.
Musical Group - Second, Shriners Gizeh Temple band; First, Rhythm Dance Academy.
Best Float - Third, Festival of Lights Santa Claus; Second, Ladysmith Lions 75th Anniversary float; First, Eagles ‘Now and Then’.
Commercial Entry - Second, 49th Parallel Grocery; First, Art of Brewing.
Comic Entry - First, Ladysmith Senior’s Centre.
Decorated Bike - Second, Ladysmith Senior’s Centre; First, Art In The Forest.
Kiddies Costume - Third, A&W kids; Second, Lion’s Club baseball player; First, Fuller Lake Figure Skaters.
Adult Costume - Third, Fairy Island Princesses; Second, Lois Anderson (in the Volkswagen); First, Ladysmith Senior’s Centre.
Animal Entry - Second, Little dog in the Volkswagen; First, Labradoodle in the Art of Brewing float.
Neatest Antique Vehicle - Third, Shriners antique fire truck; Second, The contingent of cars from the Old English Car Club; First, Mid-Island Antique Tractor Club.
Best Theme Entry - Third, Gizeh Temple Shriners; Second, 49th Parallel Grocery; First, Ladysmith Eagles Club.