Past and future unite as Darlingford celebrates 125 years – PembinaValleyOnline.com

Darlingford Celebrates 125 Years with Community FestivitiesDarlingford Celebrates 125 Years with Community Festivities After extensive preparation and anticipation, the community of Darlingford enthusiastically commemorated its 125th anniversary with a series of captivating events. As Cassandra Morrow, chair of the Darlingford 125 committee, had envisioned, the festivities catered to a diverse audience. The weekend commenced with a family-oriented dance, lively beer gardens, a bonfire, and a spectacular fireworks display on Friday. Saturday’s schedule included a delectable pancake breakfast, a vibrant quilt show, a captivating vintage fashion show, and a gleaming show and shine. Sunday dawned with a moving memorial service at Darlingford Memorial Park, where Lieutenant Commander Lee Seymour delivered an inspiring speech amid a backdrop of blooming flowers. Lieutenant Commander Seymour, a renowned figure with an illustrious career in the Canadian Armed Forces, hailed from Darlingford and expressed his deep connection to the town. For siblings Noreen Wilson and Gary Hunt, whose family history is deeply intertwined with the area, the weekend served as a testament to the enduring strength of the Darlingford community. Darryl Domitruk, a board member of the Darlingford Pembina Heritage Museum, viewed the festivities as an opportunity for newcomers and longtime residents to forge bonds. He remarked on the sense of unity and shared history fostered by the event. According to Domitruk, the celebration was a continuation of the area’s centennial anniversary, recognizing the significance of Darlingford’s enduring heritage. Reflecting on the resounding success of the weekend, Wilson expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the sense of community spirit it fostered. In addition to the text description, the article also includes multimedia elements: * Audio: Interviews with Darryl Demetric and the Wilson-Hunt siblings. * Video: N/A * Gallery: N/A

After a year of preparation and excitement, Darlingford finally celebrated its 125th anniversary with a weekend of community events.

In an earlier interview, Darlingford 125 committee chair Cassandra Morrow said the aim was to offer something for everyone during the festivities.

The committee accomplished that goal; the weekend began with a family dance, beer gardens, a bonfire and fireworks on Friday. Saturday’s festivities included a pancake breakfast, a quilt show, a vintage fashion show and a show & shine. Sunday morning saw a memorial service at Darlingford Memorial Park, with guest speaker Lieutenant Commander Lee Seymour performing against the backdrop of dozens of blooming flowers.

Lieutenant Commander Seymour, who has served in the Canadian Armed Forces for over 22 years and has a wealth of achievements to his name, has travelled all over Canada for his work, but his hometown is Darlingford.

For Noreen Wilson and Gary Hunt, brother and sister with strong ties to the area (their grandfather helped build local buildings and flowers are planted in Darlingford Memorial Park in memory of several family members), the weekend was proof that the Darlingford community is still thriving.

“We’ve seen the businesses leave and (we thought) the town was dying, but it wasn’t,” Wilson said. “It’s as vibrant as it can be with all the people (who) have put this thing together. It’s amazing how much volunteerism there is and how much care there is in this community.”

“So many came,” Hunt says. “I couldn’t believe it.”

For Darryl Domitruk, a board member of the Darlingford Pembina Heritage Museum, the weekend was a chance for newcomers to the community to bond with people who have lived there for generations.

“It’s been great. It’s been a great community event,” he said. “(We’ve come together) to meet each other, have fun, play games and talk about the history of Darlingford and (the future).”

According to Domitruk, the celebration was a continuation of the area’s 100th anniversary.

“There was a local organising committee that realised that 125 was coming and that Darlingford was a community that deserved to be remembered and celebrated for (this) milestone,” he says. “There are all sorts of people here, young and old, who are having a great time.”

Wilson considers the weekend-long party heartwarming.

“It’s all very valuable, I think, very valuable to keep a community like this going.”

Listen to the full interviews below.

~With files from Abby Wall~