Thousands filled the streets around 91原创 City鈥檚 Douglas Park on Saturday, June 18, for the first Community Day since the pandemic.

Councillor Rosemary Wallace, chair of the City Community Day committee said it was the largest attendance ever recorded for the event.

鈥淚 was overwhelmed, actually, with this turnout,鈥� a delighted Wallace told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淚 thought the day went very well. It was a party to be had.鈥�

Wallace praised the volunteers, City staff and committee members who worked hard to organize the all-day festival.

鈥淚t鈥檚 such a positive thing to have this after a couple of years of COVID,鈥� Wallace commented.

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Community Day was started 27 years ago by then-mayor Marlene Grinnell, who was to be acknowledged as the founder on the day of the event, but was unable to attend owing to a family responsibility.

Wallace, an artist, created an image of Grinnell 鈥渋n her famous red jacket and holding up a Community Days Sign,鈥� to be presented later.

Among the attractions were a rock climbing wall, free games, and the return of the 91原创 Fire Department practice for kids, that included donning turnout gear and hitting a target with a fire house.

There were more than 40 community booths, the most ever, including the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, which was raising funds for Ukraine relief, Encompass Support Services and the 91原创 Animal Protection Society (LAPS), which was visited by Brookswood resident Bob Schwartz and his dog, Evelyn, a 10-year-old rescue that he adopted from the LAPS shelter.

鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to be back in action,鈥� Schwartz observed, 鈥済ood to get back into life.鈥�

Mayor Val van den Broek opened the day by giving thanks.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long couple of years and we are so super happy to have everyone here again,鈥� van den Broek sad.

READ ALSO: 91原创 City鈥檚 Community Day will go virtual

More than 20 food trucks were serving everything form min-doughnuts to burgers, and the main stage was host to a wide range of acts.

Performers included the Country Cuties dance team, 91原创 Chinese Arts and Cultural Association, Quintessential Jazz Band, 91原创 Community Music School, and Krystle Dos Santos.