O, Canada!
Think Canada Day has to mean the usual food and fireworks? Think again! Here are five fun but not-so- common ways to celebrate.
BE LIKE A WAVING FLAG
Pull on a red or white T-shirt and step in line with thousands of other Canadians to create a human flag. Victoria residents set the trend with their living flag in 2010, which inspired some competition from Winnipeggers (pictured, right), whose 3,400-person flag was photographed for a Canada Post stamp. This year, Winnipeg is hoping for more friendly rivalry from across the country.
TAKE THE OX BY THE HORNS
Get a taste of smalltown Nova Scotia with New Germany’s celebration, which kicks off with a charming children’s parade (in which little ones dress up according to the year’s theme), then quickly escalates to battles of brute force, where attendees can prove their patriotism in an ox pull (a contest to find out whose ox can pull the most weight).
BE A POUTINE PUNDIT
Saint John, N.B., starts its Canada Day festivities with a 10-day countdown of the best Canada has to offer. On Day 4, indulge in a poutine cook-off. On Day 6, hear singers perform tunes from Canada’s top 40 artists. And on Day 10, gather around the clock with 10,000 other Canadians to ring in the nation’s birthday to the sound of an all-Canadian concert.
FINNISH WITH A WORLD RECORD
At Sudbury, Ont.’s, Finnish Canadian Grand Festival, which has been running since 1940, festivalgoers gather for a giant Nordic Walk, hoping to set a Guinness World Record. If you get to the festival before July 1, check out the Wife Carrying Championship (which requires each competitor to complete an obstacle course while carrying a woman) and the Cell Phone Toss (which is pretty much what it sounds like).
PADDLE A DIY CANOE
On July 1 in Saskatchewan’s Wascana Park, teams will compete for the coveted Plywood Cup – a heavy trophy made completely of wood. In the annual competition, teams each build a boat (mostly out of a small amount of plywood, duct tape and nails), then paddle across Wascana Lake – hopefully without sinking. Competitors should come prepared with a good sense of humour for this spirited charitable event.