Hats Off Day 2017 Parade Winners Celebrated at Awards Ceremony

Pictured: Isabel Kolic, Executive Director of the Heights Merchants Association, presents the Best Overall Entry trophy to Lotus Sports Club President Tony Vukasovic

At the annual Hats Off Day Parade, five groups impressed both the crowd and parade judges, claiming the top awards at a trophy presentation that took place on June 22 at Community Savings Credit Union. Since 1989 children, parents, merchants, and the community have gathered along Hastings Street from Beta Avenue to Boundary Road to watch the parade that kicks off Burnaby’s favourite street festival, Hats Off Day. Each year the Heights Merchants Association awards the most exciting entries.

This year Hats off Day celebrated with a Great Canadian Outdoors theme that inspired 41 parade participants to create interactive and unique Canadian costumes and floats. Parade favourites included SAJC Furniture’s Canadian car float that was decorated with a giant moose and Canadian flags, as well as McGill Public Library who turned library carts into canoes paddled by foxes, beavers, and a raccoon.

Parade entries were judged on the following categories: Best Overall Entry; Best Engagement; Best Parade Theme; Most Creative Entry; and Top Merchant entry.

Tony Vukasovic, representing Lotus Sports Club, claimed the top prize of best overall parade entry for their paddle board float that highlighted the best of Canada from the sea to the trees.

Hats Off Day attracts 60,000 people each year for a free day of family fun that features live music, a vintage car show, delicious food and treats, and an abundance of prizes.

Parade categories and winners appear below.

BEST OVERALL ENTRY

Lotus Sports Club

BEST ENGAGEMENT

Burnaby Fire Department

BEST PARADE THEME

McGill Public Library

MOST CREATIVE ENTRY

SAJC Furniture

TOP MERCHANT ENTRY

Metro Taekwondo Studio

The Heights Merchants Association would like to thank Community Savings Credit Union for generously hosting the event.