Jazz and tulips came together at the Squamish Adventure Centre to kick off last weekend in a unique fashion.
Luluk Purwanto and the Helsdingen Trio rolled its bus into the construction zone at the Adventure Centre and set up a portable stage to entertain locals and mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Holland.
Members of the Squamish Legion and local Cadets participated in a colour parade that started at Rose Park and made its way to the concert venue.
The colour parade was followed by a short ceremony where Dutch musician Rene van Helsdingen presented Mayor Ian Sutherland with a certificate promising 600 Dutch tulips.
"This isn't the right time of year for tulips," said van Helsdingen as he gave Sutherland a certificate representing the flowers.
Sutherland recognized local veteran Doug Fenton and asked Fenton to choose where the tulips will be planted.
"We'll put some at the Legion, some here at the Adventure Centre and some in Lily's Garden," Fenton said.
With the presentation out of the way, the band broke into its jazz set to entertain the 150 people gathered at the Howe Sound Performing Arts Association sponsored event.
Luluk Purwanto and the Helsdingen Trio is making its way across Canada playing music at festivals and special events in towns from the Pacific to the Atlantic and as far north as the Territories.
The band's performances are dedicated to the Canadian veterans, like Fenton, who helped liberate The Netherlands 60 years ago.
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