By Zachary Roman

With the beautiful Albion Hills Conservation Area as a backdrop, Caledon residents celebrated their town and country on July 1.

The Town of Caledon held its first-ever Celebrate Caledon event at Albion Hills that day. The event combined the previously separately-held Caledon Day and Caledon Canada Day events, both of which were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Held in partnership with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, the event featured live music, a kids' zone, fireworks, food and drink vendors and more. The headlining music act was Juno Award-nominated band Wide Mouth Mason, and local acts Itchy and Scratchy Showband and Vilivant opened for them.

Caledon Mayor Allan Thompson was on hand at the event alongside members of Caledon council.

He gave a speech and said that Canada is the best place in the world, and that Caledon is the best place in Canada.

He remarked it would be his last Canada Day as mayor, a bittersweet moment since he has served in public office in Caledon for nearly 20 years.

He and council wished all who attended the event a happy Canada Day and safe travels home at the end of the night.