Music, pageantryandthe sounds of celebration! Don’tmiss Canada’s 152ndbirthday inournation’s capital
If visiting Ottawa to celebrate Canada Day on Parliament Hill is on your bucket list, you’re not alone.
Melanie Brault, the director of capital celebrations and program operations at Canadian Heritage, says she’s lost track of how many Canadians have told her they want to be in Ottawa for at least one Canada Day in their life.
“I think it’s an opportunity for Canadians to really show their pride in being Canadian and to have that sense of belonging. And it really gives the best memories of Canada Day when you’re actually in the nation’s capital to celebrate this momentous birthday of our nation,” she said.
Because July 1 falls on Monday this year, Brault said that there will also be some weekend celebrations on Sunday, June 30, which is a bonus for out-of-town visitors.
“We are going to be celebrating Canadian multiculturalism, diversity and inclusiveness by highlighting a lot of great Canadian talent,” she said.
There are three official venues for Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa, and each offers something different for visitors.
PARLIAMENT HILL
The focus of the day’s celebrations are on Parliament Hill on July 1 and can be broken down into morning, afternoon and evening segments.
In the morning, beginning at 8 a.m., there will be a peace and friendship circle led by an Algonquin spiritual leader, which is followed by music played on the bells of the Peace Tower’s carillon.
The noon- hour show, begins with a Royal Canadian Air Force flyby followed by Canadian musicians and singers performing on stage with musical backing by the National Arts Centre Orchestra which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The featured performers will include K’naan, T. Thomason, the Ballets Jazz Montréal, Karim Ouellet, Shawnee and many other artists performing during the noon-hour festivities.
There’s a bit of a break until the evening performances start up again at 6: 45 p. m. when Kaytranada puts on a full show. Some of the evening’s great Canadian headliners include Marie-mai, Coeur de Pirate, Brett Kissel, the Strumbellas, William Prince, Karim Ouellet, K’naan and Crystal Shawanda.
The evening is capped off by the Manulife Canada Day musical fireworks, backed by a high- tempo track of Canadian DJS remixing great Canadian tunes, at 10 p.m.
MAJOR’S HILL PARK
The other official Canada Day venue in downtown Ottawa is at Major’s Hill Park, which isn’t that far from Parliament Hill and close to the Fairmont Château Laurier. The park will host Canada Day celebrations not only on the official holiday on July 1 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. but also be the only one of the official venues that has events on June 30 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The park will feature interactive works of art and playful games for people to participate in, along with two stages that will present a diverse lineup of Canadian musical talent. The main Tim Horton’s stage will welcome performers like Chances, Iskwé, Said The Whale, Tyler Shaw, Tokyo Police Club, Élage Diouf and Domino.
The second stage will showcase acrobatic performers, some of which have worked with Cirque du Soleil, who will put on a series of breathtaking athletic shows throughout both days.
CANADIAN MUSEUM OF HISTORY
Across the Ottawa River in Gatineau, visitors can immerse themselves in a day of events meant to celebrate Indigenous culture at the Canadian Museum of History. There will be indoor and outdoor programming on July 1. This official venue will be the site of another Tim Horton’s stage that will feature even more diverse artistic programming.
Some of the singers to be showcased will be Silla and Rise, DJ Shub, Bleu Jeans Bleu and Ben Kaplan. There will also be Indigenous artists such as James Jones, who is a hoop dancer, and Angela Gladue, who is a fancy shawl performer.
Because it faces the Parliament Buildings on the other side of the Ottawa River, just behind the museum is also a great place to watch the fireworks.
OTHER ADVICE
Public transit is free on Canada Day. If you’re coming in from outside the downtown core, which can get pretty crowded on July 1, it’s worth the effort to get around by bus.
Dress in red and white, but with activities outdoors, be prepared for all weather and pack hats and sunscreen for a sunny day and an umbrella and raincoat in case it rains. Snacks and refillable water bottles are also a good idea. Lightweight chairs can make life a lot more comfortable, but make sure anything you are carrying is safe to bring through the security checks you’ll need to pass through to get to Parliament Hill.
For more information, visit www.ottawatourism.ca/summer.