In the past, May saw the start of annual community events on the Sunshine Coast.
The first Sechelt May Day celebration, held in 1918 at the school, was organized by Gladys Tidy, the Sechelt School teacher. It was a very small event held only for her pupils.
After the Second World War, from 1949 to 1971, May Days in Sechelt were celebrated on Victoria Day, May 24, or close to it. They became much larger events held on the Union Steamship Company picnic grounds and later in Hackett Park. The whole community was involved organizing a parade of floats and bands, one being the North Shore Sea Cadets band, the crowning of a May Day Queen, maypole dancers, races and other contests.
The Canadian Navy sent HMCS Settler to take part in Sechelt’s 1958 May Day Celebrations – B.C.’s Centennial Year. Lieutenant Governor Pearkes and his wife attended the 1961 May Day Festivities and were welcomed by Chief Charlie Craigan.
The early May Days were organized by committees of Sechelt residents. Later, from 1967 to 1971, the Coast Lions Club and the Village of Sechelt took over the task.
There was no official May Day in 1972 and in 1973, a different fun weekend began – Sechelt Timber Days. The emphasis was now on different kinds of logging sports, such as axe throwing, block chop, power saw bucking, ladies nail driving and tree climbing and a timber queen was crowned. A parade was still held, as were other traditional events: races, a fishing derby, ball sports, pony rides and dances. Mandrake the Magician put on two shows at the 1983 Timber Days.
It should be noted May Days, with their own stories, were celebrated in various Sunshine Coast Communities. In 1988, the second annual Sechelt Celebration Days were held on July 2, replacing Timber Days as Sechelt’s main festival. Now, we celebrate Canada Day, originally Dominion Day, on July 1, with many of the May Days and Timber Days traditional events included.
