The Cannery Trade Centre turned 35 Saturday with a birthday party open to the public celebrating its current businesses and historic past as the Aylmer canning factory. 

There was cake, live music and plenty of people. 

"So happy to see so many different kinds of people, people who had never been here, people who had been here but didn't realize all of the different businesses," said building manager Jill Bateman. 

Two of those visitors were women who remembered working at the canning factory decades ago when it was still in operation. 

"That was amazing, we have some old pictures up so I asked both of them to have a look at the old pictures especially the pictures of the canning line, because that's what they did," Bateman said. 

Bateman was kept busy all afternoon hosting the many people who came through for the festivities, slicing up a giant cake provided by the Nest and Nectar. She isn't sure how many people she saw, but knows about 70 were there at the beginning. 

"And it's been non-stop ever since then!" Bateman said. "And we almost demolished the giant cake, I'm amazed."

Kids loved the scavenger hunt. Papers were provided with the names of Cannery businesses and spaces beside them to collect a stamp, encouraging visitors to explore more of the building. 

"Running free, going to visit the different businesses, getting stamps, and meeting people, and they've had such a good time," Bateman said. 

Participants in the scavenger hunt were entered into a draw for a basket of Cannery business goodies.