Long-Time Nun Named Parade Marshal

A local nun best known for her dedication to her church, her love of animals and for making fantastic loaves of bread will serve as this year’s Canada Day Parade Honorary Marshal, the Canada Day Committee announced this week.

Sister Ada Toner, 94, was named honorary parade marshal and will lead the Canada Day Parade through the city streets on Sunday, July 1.

“After we looked at the nominees, it was a pretty quick decision to recognize Sister Ada’s contribution to making our great community even greater,” says parade chairman Conal MacMillan. “She has been faithful to her ministry for over 75 years and has become a great ambassador for the Fort.”

Sister Ada, who celebrated her 75th anniversary as nun last year, will ride in a convertible at the front of the parade.

“I think it’s great. I’ll get a free ride for the whole parade,” Sister Ada said. “I think this is the most wonderful place to live.”

Sister Ada, who grew up in New Brunswick, has worked in a number of Catholic parishes across Canada, but chose to return to Fort Saskatchewan many years ago because she considers it home. The Fort’s Catholic parish – Our Lady of the Angels – named a library in their church after her, to which she still donates books bought with money gifted to her on special occasions.

“I don’t consider the honours just mine,” she said. “They’re everybody’s. We’re a community.”

She has also spent many hours visiting patients at the local hospital and meeting with inmates at the local jail. Sister Ada also regularly makes her own bread with a recipe that makes two loaves – one for her and one she gives to someone who needs it.