Oh, Canada! Oh, what a great way to kick off the celebration.

The lineups started to form early for the annual Canada Day Breakfast, hosted by the Cochrane branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and by the end of the morning over 600 people had been served.

The morning kickoff continues to grow in popularity and each year it seems a wider variety of entertainment is offered. Caller Glenn Watts lead square dancers through a number of songs, followed by multiple performances by Gary Lefebvre, the Mini Thni Dancers, three young performers from the Melanie Baux Vocal Studio and the Cochrane Pipe Band. The town sold out of specially-made Canada Day cupcakes they offered after the 11 a.m. flag-raising ceremony.

Many enjoyed their breakfast with family and friends in the adjacent Community Cenotaph Park and that thrilled Legion officials. New grass was recently added and only a few more of the finer touches are left to be completed when enough funds are raised.

Legion Sgt.-at-Arms Steve Merritt says any opportunity to celebrate our great nation is well worthwhile.

"We're 151 years old and for a country to last that long in relative peace and harmony speaks volumes. So the chance we get to celebrate Canada's confederation makes this one of the most important days of the year."

Mayor Jeff Genung was thrilled with the large crowd.

"It's a big day for the country and I just think it's cool how Cochranites have shown up in droves. It's fun to be a part of; it would be hard to miss," says Genung.