The Airdrie Parades Committee didn't really know what to expect when they launched the first ever Canada Day Home Decorating Contest in the city.  

Earlier this year, COVID-19 led to the cancellation of the popular Canada Day Parade along with the annual fireworks display at Chinook Winds Regional Park.  In a move to help keep the community spirit alive for Canada Day, the committee came up with a contest where residents could decorate their homes in Canada Day fashion to win prizes from local businesses.

To say the committee was happy with the success of the contest would be putting it a bit mildly.  "We were so happy.  Sooo happy," exclaims Airdrie Parades Director of Social Media Sam Morros.  "As sad as we were to have no parade this year due to COVID, it was still amazing that we could all get together, be creative and celebrate in a different and slightly more distant way."

Morros says the day was successful all around.  "First of all," she says, "the sun came out so we were really happy about that.  It was so awesome to see the community spirit that came out through this event.  We had over 100 homes for this event and the decorations they put on their homes were incredible.  Everybody did such a fantastic job."

The success of the first event has the committee contemplating continuing the contest in years to come.  "It's something we would look at going forward, even potentially after the COVID era.  Not in place of the parade but as something maybe to run alongside it."

The homes entered in the contest were spread out right across the city.  The four judges, Mayor Peter Brown, Airdrie-East MLA Angela Pitt, Banff-Airdrie MP Blake Richards and the community nominated judge, Airdrie Lioness Club President Brandee Scarrott had a great time looking over the colorfully decorated homes to pick their top ten entrants, which Morros says was no easy feat.

"They were incredible.  The amount of effort and creativity and Canadian spirit that got put into these displays was so awesome to see."

Now, it's up to people in Airdrie to decide upon a winner.  To see the top ten and vote for your favourite visit the Airdrie Parades Facebook page.  Voting takes place through July 7th.

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