Happy belated birthday, Canada!

Many people in Portage la Prairie came out yesterday to celebrate Canada's 152nd birthday as part of the Canada Day festivities.

Candice Bergen is the MP for Portage-Lisgar and says it's a busy day for her, as she tries to take in as many celebrations as she can in her riding.

"The only other day that's like this, is November 11th. I think the two are related," says Bergen. "One is very celebratory and the weather's beautiful, and people are excited and having fun. The other is a little more sombre, and usually it's pretty cold out and there's a sense of gratitude and seriousness, but I think they're related."

Ian Wishart, the MLA for Portage believes we are lucky to be where we are.

"You look around the world and there's so much strife in so many parts of the world. Here in Canada, and in Manitoba particularly, we just don't have all of those problems," says Wishart. "Certainly we have our challenges, but we work constructively together to help resolve those problems. It's a great reminder that being in Canada is something special."

The Mayor of Portage, Irvine Ferris agrees -- but adds that it's also great to live in a city like this.

"Certainly, how fortunate we are to live in Canada, and to live in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba," says Ferris. "Besides being a beautiful day and it's sunny and there's a huge turnout here, and we're celebrating our birthday, we stop for a minute and realize all the benefits all the advantages we have, because of the country we live in. It really is something we're celebrating and we're doing that today in a big way."

The day kicked off with the Rotary Breakfast and ended with a dazzling fireworks display above Island Park.

View of Fireworks from the sky Canada Day evening: