Celebrating your Canada's Wonderland memories
Grace Peacock
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Canada’s Wonderland turns 40 this weekend, and we asked for your best park memories to help us celebrate. We launched the Memory Project earlier this year, calling out for your photos, videos or written submissions. You didn’t disappoint! We’ve had hundreds of submissions so far and it’s all been amazing. We can't wait to get everyone back to make more!
We’ve heard from former associates who felt like their time working at the park was more like a summer camp with friends than just a job. We heard from couples who met at the park and later got married. People who came as children, and are now bringing their own kids or grandkids to recreate some of those cherished memories. People are sharing their funny moments trying to work up the courage to get on their first big coaster, or the best park desserts they still crave to this day (funnel cake registers high, of course, but Smurf blue ice cream is a close second!). We’re seeing photos of amazing Wonderland memorabilia, park guides and t-shirts guests have collected and kept over the years.
We’ll be sharing these great memories and photos all year, but we wanted to highlight some here, in advance of the park’s anniversary weekend in hopes that they may inspire some of your own fond memories at the amusement park.
If you have your own memories you’d like to submit, the Memory Project is open until Labour Day - and there’s even a chance to win great ticket prize packs! See details here.
REMEMBERING THE CHARACTERS
From Scooby-Doo, the Flintstones, that Captain Caveman guy to the Heritage Kids, Star Trek Klingons and the Peanuts gang, countless guests have stopped for a photo or a hug or high-five with our colourful and fun characters.
REMEMBERING THE RIDES
Who can forget the classics that started it all? Zumba Flume, Dragon Fyre, Mighty Canadian Minebuster were a few of those first 30 rides at tha park when it opened in 1981. Everyone loved (and many miss) SkyRider, the stand-up roller coaster. And today guests are busy making new memories on some of our record-breakers like Leviathan and Yukon Striker. If you want a thrill, we've got plenty to go around.
Grace M. sent this great photo in of the Character Carousel and noted she grew up in Maple, Ontario when the park was being built and said having an amusement park so near was like 'a dream come true'.
REMEMBERING GOOD TIMES
Here's a selection of great photos of moments with friends and family, with some familiar backdrops like Wonder Mountain, and others we fondly recall from days gone by.
At left, Carol W. with her best friend Filomena who used to go to the park together every year since it opened, and now still come to the park together with their kids! At right, Michelle shared this photo of her with friends on the International Street bridge.
Thanks so much to everyone who's taken the time to send in your memories and photos. We've really enjoyed them and will continue to share throughout the year!
