Remembering Mississauga's “Birth of a City Celebrations” in 1974
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Birth of a City logo - Mississauga Times
There was not a great deal of celebration when the City of Mississauga was born on January 1, 1974. But they did get around to having a party eventually. The “Birth of a City Celebrations” were held on September 7, 1974.
The day began with the City Day Parade, which departed at 10 am from Square One and travelled down Hurontario Street to Lakeshore Road, ending at Port Credit Memorial Park. The parade featured marching bands, elected officials, prominent local people and special floats. Official opening ceremonies, chaired by City of Mississauga Mayor Martin Dobkin, took place at 1 pm in Port Credit Memorial Park. There were special prizes for the best parade floats.
The festivities also included a multitude of events and sporting activities at multiple locations. Memorial Park hosted Indigenous exhibits, music and dancing, military displays from Fort York, and an invitational horseshoe pitching competition for invited elected officials from surrounding municipalities. Sporting events, including canoeing and water-skiing performances by Aquarama were held along the Credit River. The Brampton Flying Club presented an “aerial salute” in the skies over Memorial Park, and skydiving jumps were performed by Bill Cole and the Descenders Parateam. Figure skating demonstrations and a hockey game between the Erindale and Port Credit “oldtimers” was held in Port Credit Memorial Arena. The arena also had special City of Mississauga souvenirs available, including records of the new “Mississauga Song” by Tommy Hunter.
Clarke Memorial Hall hosted crafters and community groups, featuring displays from Credit Valley Archaeological Society, the Britannia Schoolhouse restoration group, local theatre and opera groups, the Mississauga Coin Club, and the Japanese Culture Society.
Rec and Parks Seniors Float, City Day Parade, courtesy of the Mississauga Library System
Nearby Riverside Public School was the scene for dancing and music, with ballroom dancing, the Scottish Country Dancers, the Swingin’ Squares dancers, and a variety of local musical performances. Riverside also hosted pony rides, model airplanes, and children’s activities.
City Day photos from Mississauga Times, Sept 11, 1974
The Lions Club Swimming Pool featured synchronized swimming and freestyle swimming competitions. Another feature of the festivities was the “Mississauga City Road Race” from the Mississauga Cycling Club. Racers would travel from Memorial Park, up Mississauga Road, to Terra Cotta and back. A running marathon road race was also a highlight of the day.
From Mississauga Times, Sept 11, 1974
The newly opened Port Credit harbour facility (marina) hosted “Harbourfest”, which featured musical acts by Shawn Jackson and Sweet Blindness, Sea Dog, Fellowship, Fludd and Crowbar, and dancing with Percy and the Teardrops and Dr. Music, as well as performances by Mississauga’s own Rosann “Kitty” Meredith (also known as “Diamond Lil”). A special presentation was also made to Mississauga resident and renowned jockey Sandy Hawley.
From Mississauga Times, Sept 4, 1974
After day-long festivities under beautiful sunshine, the celebrations were capped off with 25-minute fireworks display in the harbour. So, while there may not have been much hoopla when the city officially came to be on January 1, 1974, we eventually did get around to having a birthday party, and from reports it certainly was a celebration to remember!
Bicycle Race from Mississauga Times, Sept 11, 1974
Take part in the History Hunt!
One exciting city-wide program is the History Hunt! In honour of the Mississauga’s 50th anniversary, the Museums of Mississauga have hidden 50 virtual artifacts as part of a city-wide scavenger hunt. Explore greenspaces, trails and parks, public art installations and learn some history along the way.
The Mississauga History Hunt features ten tours, each with five stops to explore. At each stop, there is a clue to find the next marker. Happy hunting! Participate in the scavenger hunt by scanning the QR codes on the signs located across Mississauga, or by downloading the STQRY app (Android / iOS) onto your device.
The History Hunt is a self-guided scavenger hunt, where you will not only unlock exclusive stories about the history of the city, but also earn virtual badges for a chance to win prizes throughout the year. Prizes include gift cards to local restaurants and experiences, and tickets to local shows and sports games.
For more information on 50th Anniversary events and celebrations in the City of Mississauga, please visit: https://www.mississauga.ca/anniversary/mississauga-turns-50/events/
