Five ways to celebrate Canada Day
Learn about the Indigenous land you live on. Listen and amplify Indigienous voices. Support Indigenous-owned business. Donate to support Indigenous people and communities. Read books about Indigenous culture and history (start by reading the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action). Learn about and honour our shared history.
What do ice hockey, politeness, and maple syrup have in common? They are quintessentially Canadian and so are these five fun ways to celebrate Canada Day this year.
LEARN ABOUT CULTURE
Take time this Canada Day to celebrate the rich heritage, diverse cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Learn about the Indigenous land you live on. Listen and amplify Indigienous voices. Support Indigenous-owned business. Donate to support Indigenous people and communities. Read books about Indigenous culture and history (start by reading the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action). Learn about and honour our shared history. We can all play a part in building a stronger, better future for First Nations and for Canada. For younger Canadians, the National Arts Centre is sharing colouring pages with Indigenous words featuring artwork created by Indigenous artists. nac-cna.ca/en/indigenoustheatre/colouring-pages
ENJOY A DELICIOUS MEAL
Bacon and maple syrup top the list of quintessential Canadian foods, so what better way to kick off your Canada Day celebrations than with a pancake breakfast? Canada produces 85 per cent of the world’s maple syrup. The bulk of maple syrup production is in Quebec, but maple syrup producing regions are also located in Nova Scotia, Ontario and New Brunswick. The country’s Aboriginal peoples taught the early settlers how to harvest sap and boil it to make maple syrup.
Stack the pancakes high, douse them in pure maple syrup, add some bacon and fresh local berries (strawberries are now in season!) and enjoy, eh!
THE CANADIAN WILDERNESS
Get outside and take in the beauty our Canadian landscape has to offer at every turn. Canada is famously beautiful so go bask in all its natural wonders. Be it our sparkling blue lakes, salty air by the sea, old growth forests, long country roads, or national parks, there’s lots to discover. Spending time outdoors has significant health and wellness benefits, plus it’s a nice way to spend the day. Find a natural area in your neighbourhood or nearby to spend time outside and take the chance to disconnect and destress. Take a walk, run, hike, or bike ride and breathe in the natural beauty surrounding us.
pc.gc.ca/en/index
BARBECUE DELIGHTS
Host a barbecue loaded with Canadian flavours. Think crispy Canadian maple bacon in a salad with blueberry dressing, Montreal-spiced steak or cedar-planked salmon on the barbecue, P.E.I. potatoes, and sweet strawberry shortcake on the menu for a Canada Day inspired meal. The ketchup chip has a complicated history as to its origins but is a Canadian classic so serve those up on the side. Cold beverages are a must, be they pop, beer or a spicy Caesars (Canada’s national cocktail). Bust out the backyard summer games, or keep on theme with a few rounds of Rummoli, Crokinole, or Trivial Pursuit, all Canadian originals. Don’t forget the music, of which there will be no shortage of talented Canadian artists to pump on the speakers.
LIGHTS ON CANADA DAY
This year’s national Canada Day program presented by Canadian Heritage will be, for the second time, presented virtually. Lights on Canada Day, a two-hour program, will broadcast on CBC television and ICI Radio-Canada Télé, as well as on Canadian Heritage’s YouTube channel. The show will showcase artists and artisans in the entertainment industry across the country. Canadians will travel virtually from Ottawa to Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Yukon, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and the Northwest Territories. At 10 p.m. local time, point your smartphone or tablet to the night sky and enjoy a threeminute show displaying 3D fireworks. The augmented reality experience will give you the same visual and sound effects as a real fireworks display.
canadavirtualfireworks.ca/