May 30, 2002
"Hats Off" Day in Burnaby Heights
MLA Statement
R. Lee: This Saturday is Hats Off Day in Burnaby. Originally, the Heights Merchants Association in Burnaby began Hats Off Day in the mid-1980s for customer appreciation.
Since that time it has grown into one of the largest celebrations in the lower mainland, bringing together more than 20,000 people and showcasing many local community groups and organizations.
The celebration begins with the Hats Off Day parade, now in its thirteenth year, led down Hastings Street by the Vancouver and Seattle motorcycle drill teams. Participants include the Burnaby fire department, the Chinese lion dancers, marching bands, community groups and many others.
After the parade the street festival begins. People can experience different ethnic foods as cultural associations cook up foods from their homelands. While they eat their lunch they can also enjoy the music of over a dozen different musical groups.
For the first time ever, this year's Hats Off Day will include a collector car show displaying at least 80 hot rods, classical cars and specialty cars from Europe. These rare vehicles from the 1920s to the 1980s will definitely attract many car enthusiasts and spectators from all over the lower mainland.
As the parade marks its thirteenth birthday, next Tuesday also marks the thirteenth anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre. On June 4, 1989, thousands of civilians and students in the pro-democracy movement were killed by machine guns and tanks in Beijing, China.
In Canada we are fortunate to be able to participate in events such as the Hats Off Day, having the freedom of peaceful assembly.
Hats Off Day is a testimony to the community and human spirit. I commend all the organizers, including Gilmore Community School, the Heights Neighbourhood Association and the Heights Merchants Association for this great multicultural event.
