May Day/
Victoria Day
IOCO Memories
Chapter 18
Victoria Day and May Day
One of the most popular events held in Ioco was the celebration of the Queen’s birthday known as Victoria Day.
The festival, later called the May Day Festival, was first held in 1917 on the original Ioco Refinery site itself with storage tanks, pipes, and processing buildings as a backdrop for the activities. At that time there were 14 cottages on the refinery site. Most workers lived in a shack town adjacent to the refinery.
In 1920/21 the children's parade from the new Ioco School to the refinery was led by six black convertibles (mostly model T Fords) bearing the May Queen and her attendants. The cars were decorated with cedar boughs and red, white, and blue bunting. Two Boy Scout escorts rode on the running boards. Near the main office on the refinery, a Maypole had been installed and a reception stand, complete with piano, had been built for the May Queen Crowning Ceremony. The stand was decorated with Union Jacks and jack-o-lanterns. Most of the older children, including the Boy Scouts, joined in the Maypole dancing.
At the conclusion of the dancing, speeches, and singing, all of the Ioco children sat down for gallons of homemade ice cream, cake and cookies.
Upon completion of the Ioco town site in 1920, the event was moved to the lawn bowling area and lasted until 1972. The holiday was enjoyed by everyone and it included a variety of celebrations.
Typically, the festival began with a grand parade. Participants included local bands, the scouts, floats from businesses or clubs and swanky cars. Floats were often elaborate affairs covering entire cars, tractors or carts in decorations. Awards were given for best decorated bicycle and best float. At the end of the parade, spectator gathered to watch the crowning of the May Queen. The queens and their courts were girls, ages 11 to 13 dressed in white with bouquets of flowers. Young girls threw flower pedals as their Queen–elect marched behind them. After the crowning ceremony and speeches, children from younger grades performed the May pole dance.
(Source: Al Sholund Historical Insights – portmoody.ca)
