The Town of Tecumseh will celebrate a huge milestone on Canada Day weekend.
Tecumseh is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and the Town is inviting the community to a birthday festival on July 2, 3, and 4.
"We are excited to mark Tecumseh’s 100th birthday with a weekend of family-friendly activities for the community," said Mayor Gary McNamara, who has held the office since 2003. "It is wonderful to be able to gather once again, safely and in person. We hope to see the community come out and celebrate."
The festivities kick off on Saturday, July 2, with a memorial walk and opening ceremonies at Tecumseh Town Hall. Visitors will be invited to tour the renovated town hall. There will be a historical sports exhibit at Lacasse Park, and a birthday party Saturday evening at Lakewood Park North, featuring a performance by the Windsor Symphony Orchestra and a fireworks display.
On Sunday, July 3, highlights include a mural unveiling and pancake breakfast at the Royal Canadian Legion, Colonel Paul Poisson Branch 261, on Lanoue Street.
A historical exhibit on St. Clair Beach will be displayed at the St. Clair Beach Community Centre. In the evening, a community bike rally is scheduled for Optimist Park, plus a conversation on Truth and Reconciliation. Films will be screened outdoors Sunday night at Optimist Park and Tecumseh Centre Park on McNorton Street.
On Monday, July 4, the Tecumseh Leisure Pool at Lacasse Park will hold a free recreational swim, with an open house at historic Ste. Anne's Church. The festival ends in the evening with a musical celebration and First Nations Honour Guard at L'Essor Secondary School.
All events are free of charge.
The birthday festival is in place of the annual Corn Festival, usually held in August. It was put on hiatus in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Corn Fest is due to return to its pre-pandemic form in August 2023.
Tecumseh was first incorporated as a town in 1921 but did not hold its first municipal election until December 4, 1922, when Colonel Paul Poisson was elected its first mayor. The fire department began in August 1922, and the OPP began policing the Town in 1948. The current Town was amalgamated in 1999 by combining Tecumseh proper, Sandwich South Township, and St. Clair Beach.
Complete information about the 100th birthday can be found on Tecumseh's official website.