Canada Day in Niagara-on-the-Lake is, by any measure, a joyful affair.

There’s music, Canadian pride in the air, local families and tourists side by side — and of course, that massive, show-stopping cake. For many residents, it’s a cherished tradition. And for visitors, it’s one of the most memorable and charming glimpses of what our town has to offer.

So why are we settling for “good enough” when this event could — and should — be an extraordinary showcase of our civic pride?

Let’s start with a simple fix: sound.

Our town crier, for all his enthusiasm, continues to shout over crowds without the aid of a microphone. It’s a choice that might suit a small street corner — not a national celebration drawing thousands.

The result? Confusion, awkward silence and a collective shrug from the crowd. No one could hear the national anthem. Nobody laughed at the crier’s lines. Even the singer, who tried to use a guitar amp, was drowned out. And placing the amp outside the amphitheatre? That’s not just poor planning — it’s physics-defying.

It’s embarrassing.

We wrote about this more last year after 2024’s Canada Day parade (“Editorial: We love ya, Canada Day. We just can’t hear ya,” July 4, 2024).

We’re not talking about a budget-breaking fix. We’re talking about a basic sound setup for one of the most visible public events of the year — attended by residents, visitors from across the country, and tourists from around the world.

And it’s not an isolated issue. This is the same problem that’s plagued events like Remembrance Day, year after year, until a local electrician finally volunteered to fix it.

We need to stop relying on volunteers to salvage our civic events. Niagara-on-the-Lake should be investing in Canada Day — and demanding that groups like Friends of Fort George have access to the tools they need to make it exceptional.

Which brings us to the cake.

Why, in one of the richest municipalities in Ontario, does baker Catherine O’Donnell need to fundraise to pay for a Canada Day cake?

This cake is not just a treat. It’s a draw. It’s the centrepiece of a major tourism event, and one of the most photographed, talked-about features of the year. It’s marketing gold — the kind of thing our municipal accommodation tax should be funding.

Yet somehow, it falls to Catherine and her team at Willow to scrape together donations while town leaders pose for photo ops, smiling with forks in hand.

If you’re an elected official who stood there cutting cake this year, here’s a challenge: table a motion to use MAT funding to pay for it next year. Otherwise, maybe don’t pretend this cake — and everything it symbolizes — is something the town actually supports.

We’re proud to say The Lake Report raised $1,200 for this year’s cake through local business support and a special section in our June 26 issue. We’re grateful to those who chipped in. But let’s be honest: we shouldn’t have to do it.

And one more thing — about the cake itself.

We love Willow’s creativity, but can we please, next year, make it actually Canadian?

This is Canada Day. That means no more Disney castles, Willy Wonka scenes or American movie themes. Let’s celebrate us.

Terry Fox. Canadian wildlife. Hockey. Inukshuks. Rich Indigenous history. Colourful currency. Anne of Green Gables. Poutine. Butter tarts. Peanut butter. There’s no shortage of fun, nostalgic, patriotic themes that would still wow kids — and inspire pride in adults.

This isn’t about nitpicking. It’s about recognizing that Canada Day in NOTL isn’t just a party — it’s a platform. A chance to show the world who we are, and how much we care about this place and this country.

So let’s turn up the volume. Let’s fund the cake. And let’s make it proudly, loudly, unapologetically Canadian.

We can do better. So next year — let’s prove it.

editor@niagaranow.com