Canadians at lakeside shifted into full tilt party mode on Saturday July 1 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of their homeland’s confederation.
A sell-out crowd attended the festive birthday bash co-hosted by the Canadian Club of Lake Chapala and the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, held at the Casa del Músico in San Antonio Tlayacapan.
Special guests included Canada’s Consul and Trade Commissioner Stéphane Charbonneau, J.R. Garzón, principal of Guadalajara’s Canadian School, and Chapala Mayor Javier Degollado. A number of United States and Mexican citizens mixed it up with their Canadian friends and neighbors.
The venue was decked out with maple leaf flags, red and white balloons and other decorations reflecting the milestone occasion. Wardrobe choices by most of the guests also picked up on the national color scheme.
The event was short on formalities, with Charbonneau and Kelly delivering short speeches as a prelude to the debut screening of a custom-made Canada 150 video produced locally with funding from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of Mexico. The 10-minute film highlights comparable scenery in Canada and Mexico, ending with man-on-the-street “Happy Birthday Canada” salutes in Spanish and English shot at the Chapala waterfront.
The rest of the happening was long on conviviality and hoopla as the jovial Canucks enjoyed food, drink, animated conversation and rocking out on the dance floor. DJ Phil Eskins played an impressive selection of authentic Canadian songs to make the crowd feel right at home. The party peaked as Mike and the Suspects cranked out a rousing repertoire that got folks stomping.
Adelita’s menu of the day featured the restaurant’s signature BBQ ribs, sumptuous grilled chicken breasts with sides of baked beans and cole slaw, on generous platters efficiently served table to table. A giant maple leaf birthday cake was sliced up for dessert.