YOUR GUIDE TO CANADA DAY
There is something for everyone at Canada Day Victoria, including a living Canadian flag, fireworks, music and children’s activities.
The region’s biggest gathering, sponsored by Coast Capital Savings, will take place on the legislature grounds in Victoria, with activities centred around a main stage. You can be part of the now traditional Living Flag photo, for which up to 2,500 people don red or white T-shirts to form a human Canadian flag.
Bring your own shirt or grab one of the free shirts available for pickup at 12:30 p.m. The photograph will be taken at 2 p.m. on the legislature lawn.
Sing the national anthem or kick back and enjoy cultural and traditional entertainment throughout the day, including the Lekwungen Dancers.
Stuff your face full of national cuisine at the Flavour of Canada Food Village, featuring Jewish, Mexican, Greek, Indian and others, from noon to dusk on Belleville Street.
This year’s sustainability initiatives include vendors only offering reusable bags or paper bags, in accordance with the city’s new checkout bag regulation bylaw, which comes into effect Sunday.
Children will find activities to do and there is entertainment at the family zone, which runs from noon to 5 p.m.
A fireworks display over the Inner Harbour caps the day’s festivities at about 10:20 p.m.
Road closures begin at 4 p.m. City parkades and on-street parking downtown will be free on Sunday. People are encouraged to leave cars at home and travel downtown via bus and bike.
B.C. Transit will run additional buses as required, including standing buses along the Douglas Street corridor shortly after the conclusion of the fireworks.
There will be a bicycle valet service on the corner of Menzies and Belleville streets.
Road closures on Friday include Belleville Street (from Menzies to Douglas streets) from 6 a.m. to midnight and Government Street (from Humboldt to Superior streets), from 4 p.m. to midnight.
Alcohol is prohibited on transit buses, including in closed containers. Victoria Police will assist transit personnel in enforcing the policy, as part of a strategy to prevent public drunkenness.
“Our officers will be out early and in large numbers in support of a safe, family-friendly celebration of our nation,” said Victoria police Chief Del Manak. “We’ll also be taking non-emergency calls for service on Twitter again this year using #vicpdhelps.” The department will also deploy motion cameras in open, public spaces on Sunday to support operations and ensure public safety.
For information, go to canadadayvictoria.ca.