A slightly shorter, though more energetic 2013 Hyack International Parade took place on Saturday May 25, the final day of the nine day Hyack Festival.  The oldest running parade in British Columbia also hosted two very special anniversaries this year. A colorful and vibrant delegation from Moriguchi, Japan marched in the parade, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its sister city relationship with the City of New Westminster. And in a very rare, once-in-a-quarter-century treat, honoring its 150th Anniversary, the Royal Westminster Regiment, that was founded in 1863, marched through the city in full military grandeur.

It had been 50 years since the regiment was awarded recognition for its 100 years of service to the city with a special honor, the Freedom of the City in 1963, and not since 1988 had the regiment paraded through the streets of the city in regimental colors. Participating along with the marching battalion were numerous Afghanistan veterans, about 140 cadets from the unit’s five cadet corps, the regimental band, Second World War veterans and a number of large military vehicles.

Braving the early morning teases of rain and rounding out the 110 entries were numerous bands, floats and representation from across western Canada and the north-west USA, such as the Calgary Stampede, Olympia Washington Capital Lakefair, and the Portland Rose Festival. Take a look at some of the highlights from this year’s Hyack International Parade 🙂

 

Written by Andrés Markwart, a Columnist at Vancity Buzz. Connect with Andrés on Twitter @AMarkwart.

All images by Andrés Markwart