Victoria Day will be celebrated in Nobleton Monday
By Bill Rea

The 188th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria is coming up, so that's a good excuse for a celebration.

That's what's going to be taking place Monday in Nobleton, and a day of entertainment, food and fun is in the works.

Things will start in the local arena parking lot with registration for the Purina Walk for Guide Dogs at 10 a.m., with the walk slated to start at 11.

The Nobleton Lions are sponsoring the walk, and are inviting people and their canines to sign up and help raise money for Dog Guides Canada, which trains dogs to assist people who are blind, deaf or have special needs and can use assistance of the fourlegged variety.

Local resident Bev Berger, a national spokesperson for Dog Guides Canada, reported all the money raised from the walk will go toward the training of dogs. She added she will be taking part with her dog guide Jasper as they walk through the local streets, eventually joining up with the Victoria Day parade.

This will be the 41st annual parade, also hosted by the Lions, and it will start making its way through the streets of the village at noon.

Fun and entertainment will be the order for the next several hours around the arena complex. Students of Arcadia Academy of Music will be providing entertainment throughout the afternoon, but there will be other attractions.

The next Schomberg Idol showcase is scheduled for 2 p.m. The field currently stands at seven, but it will be reduced by the time the sun sets.

What would a birthday party be without a cake? There'll be cake for Queen Victoria, and it will be cut at 4 p.m.

And in the midst of all the entertainment, a number of local groups will be manning booths, with crafts, food or interesting information.

The Nobleton Firefighters will provide the entertainment in the evening. Celebratory fireworks will light up the sky once it gets dark.

"Hopefully, we'll get great weather," commented local Councillor Jeff Laidlaw. "It should be great fun."

"I consider it the first outing of the summer season," he added.