Saskatoon celebrates Canada Day with pancakes, fireworks

Hundreds of people took to Saskatoon's Diefenbaker Park Saturdayto celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary.

The morning began under fog cover, which made for a soothing backdrop for a special outdoor pilates class happening in one area of the park.

But things really picked up when the doors opened for breakfast with the line stretching on for hours.

Laureen Shirley was among the hundreds of people who took part in the festivities. During breakfast she reflected on her family's long and proud farming legacy in the province. Her grandparents came from Europe in the early 1900s.

"They suffered a lot of hardship and I guess we're the product of that today," she said.

"My grandad was a farmer at Elstow and my brother still farms there today and I think it's important to recognize our ancestorscontributing to Canada."

In the afternoon there were on-stage dance and music demonstrations from a variety of cultural groups.

Audience member Jamie Wordik said that's what he appreciates about Canada.

"How we embrace multiculturialism," he said.

"Everybodyfrom around the world is welcome here and we just embrace them with open arms. It's just a great free country."

"Freedom" was a word that came up a lot on Saturday with many people citing Canadians's ability to freely express themselves as a source of pride.

A group of young cousins from Halifax, missing their local parade, told CBC'sGuy Quenneville they were planning to stage their own Canada Day parade later in the day.