Photos: Thousands attend Canada Day parade

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Residents of all ages lined Wyandotte Street East Saturday morning to celebrate the country’s 156th birthday with Windsor’s annual Canada Day Parade.

Thousands of people dressed in red and white occupied a 1,500-metre stretch of the footpath, waving flags and cheering passers-by. The air quality, which had been spoiled by smoke from wildfires the previous day, improved, and merciful clouds shielded the gathering from the sun’s rays on a hot and dry day.

The parade left Devonshire Road in historic Walkerville around 11 a.m. and roared west to its finale at Aylmer Avenue.

It featured several family favorites, including Mocha Shriners, on their mini bikes spewing water at the children, which has become a time-honored tradition. Marching bands, bagpipers, equine units and giant inflatables — including a Mountie, a Beaver, and more — dazzled the crowd, while elected officials on foot distributed small flags and municipal swag to children and adults.