Celebrations for the 156th Canada Day will be in full swing from coast to coast on Saturday, July 1st. Here you will find an overview of the free events that take place just a stone’s throw from your home.
To Montréal
The Canada Day Parade returns to Sainte-Catherine Street West. The procession starts at 11:00 am at the intersection of Rue du Fort and then criss-crosses downtown to Place du Canada, near Bonaventure metro station. A number of cultural events take place at the destination. On this occasion, among other things, a cake that is more than two meters high and offers space for up to 2,500 people will be shared.
The Quai de l’Horloge in the Old Port will not be topped. A swearing-in ceremony for new residents will kick off the festivities at 1 p.m. To mark the country’s anniversary, there will be a 21-gun salute afterwards. Afterwards there will be activities and games for young and old. Those interested in skateboarding have the opportunity to learn about the sport under the guidance of the Caravane du Taz. Parks Canada also offers a Wildlife Trail game to introduce visitors to the country’s green spaces.
In Quebec
Several Peking Operas are performed on the Plains of Abraham, a type of show combining music and acrobatics and declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. La voix 2017 winner Ludovick Bourgeois will also take the stage to sing songs from his latest album.
In Ottawa
Three cultural monuments in the federal capital invite you from 10 a.m. The Bank of Canada Museum offers a quiz on money and the economy. Drum and bagpipe performances will echo over Parliament Hill. And at 100 Wellington Street there will be an exhibition on the history and lifestyle of the Inuit.
The heart of the Ottawa festivities, however, is at Parc des Plaines-LeBreton. A series of workshops offer cultural discoveries for the whole family, such as making your own space mission badge or learning to say hello in several indigenous languages. The traditional lunchtime ceremony takes place from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., between 7:15 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. the evening show presents a total of 19 artists, including Pierre Kwenders, Josiane and France D’Amour. .
One thing is certain: it will be necessary to plan for getting around without a car as several streets in downtown Ottawa will be closed. However, public transport is free until 4am.
Off the beaten path
In Montreal, some counties celebrate Canada Day with different themes. Montréal-Nord presents Latin American dance at Parc Aimé-Leonard. In LaSalle it will be the circus at Marie-Claire-Kirkland-Casgrain Park. Folk songs from the Balkans, Chile and Finland can be heard in Pierrefonds-Roxboro.
Longueuil is also hosting the 110th edition of Canada Day. The a cappella group QW4RTZ and the composer Mélissa Ouimet will perform there. There will be no fireworks on the Laval side, but the Center de la Nature will serve as a venue for traditional celebrations and magic shows.
In Rawdon, in Lanaudière, we will honor rock icons while celebrating Canada Day: the Parallel Universe group will honor the titles of the Red Hot Chili Peppers; Lulu Hughes by Janis Joplin. Finally, further south, in Montérégie, the Bataille-de-la-Châteauguay site will host sporting events in the form of rallies and obstacle courses, as well as sponge fights.