This Canada Day, Squamish fun-seekers can view the Canada Day fireworks celebrations from a different perspective. The water.
A four-hour cruise aboard the MV Abitibi is departing from Nexen beach at 7 p.m. and returning at 11 p.m. Local entrepreneurs Eric Armour and Craig Davidiuk hatched the idea several months ago.
"After we wrap up the James Bondage party every year, people are always asking us, when the next event is. I feel this is a unique answer to that question," said Armour.
The boat holds over 300 people. The adults-only costume party will entertain with DJs and other local performers as they cruise the night away, and enjoy the fireworks show at 10:30 p.m. Local DJs Sheila Cassels and Davidiuk will be joined by Vancouver's Sax playing DJ Smoothie.
The event has received a stamp of approval from the District of Squamish, and from the arm's-length corporation tasked with overseeing the municipal area know as Nexen Beach.
"It's been great to work with the Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation [SODC] and the District on this," said Armour.
"They have been very supportive and we are super excited to use Nexen Beach in a new way. It's also a great tie-in to the downtown celebrations that my fellow Squamish BIA [business improvement association] members have been planning."
The party features a red and white costume theme. Like past events put on by Amour and his business Trinity Romance, participants are encouraged to dress to impress.
In an interesting twist of fate, the boat being charted used to be a tugboat owned by SODC board member Tom Bruusgaard. The tug has since been converted into a pleasure craft and is based in Vancouver. The MV Abitibi now mainly does party and wedding cruises.
This is the first time they've used Squamish as a home base for an event. Vancouver Cruises Marketing Director Brent Aarvold said he's excited about the future of Squamish's marine and tourism economy.
"It will be great to see what Squamish has to offer," said Aarvold. "I've been learning about the plans for your marine assets and Vancouver Cruises is quite excited to be one of the first in recent memory to dock at Nexen beach for a big event like this."
Tickets are on sale at Trinity Romance, 38155 Second Avenue. Tickets cost $60 for the licensed event.
The price includes four hours of cruising, DJ's and a couple of surprises too.
Check out the red and white party Facebook page set up for more information or email [email protected].
