The Maple Leaf flew on lampposts, flagpoles and patios across the country on Monday as cities from coast to coast welcome thousands of revellers for Canada Day.
Under a cloudless July sky, thousands of people dressed in red and white made their way to Ottawa’s LeBreton Park Flats for the annual Canada Day celebrations in the national capital.
People were in high spirits as they strolled down Wellington Street to the festival site, taking the airport-style security checks and porta-potties in stride. The sun was blazing by the time things got underway at noon, and many ducked under the umbrellas they brought for shade.
Algonquin elder Claudette Commanda opened the events with an Indigenous reflection. With a small wooden canoe on stage beside her, Commanda spoke about its importance to Indigenous Peoples. Using the canoe as a symbol of hope and healing, she said Indigenous and Canadian children will journey together.
“Learn from the past, appreciate the present and honour the future, for the future belongs to the children. Together let us journey in peace and friendship,” she said.
A young Indigenous dancer in regalia, an Inuit drummer and a Métis dancer performed during the reflection before they were joined by three children. The elders and children passed the canoe to one another as a drummer performed an honour song.
Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland also spoke. Freeland was greeted with loud cheers as she said it was time to set aside “our national modesty” and declare that Canada is the best country in the world.
“Most importantly, ours is a country of good, kind people,” she said.
Freeland was there in place of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who offered greetings via a recorded video while he attended events in St. John’s, N.L. There was a ripple of surprise through the crowd when Freeland introduced the Liberal leader and he appeared on a screen instead of in person. The prime minister was taking part in a ceremony to mark 100 years of the Newfoundland National War Memorial and the interment of the remains of a First World War soldier.
At Thomson Memorial Park in Toronto, blue skies and sunny weather greeted hundreds of red-and-white clad revellers, many waving small Canadian flags. Families set up picnics and children played on inflatable bouncy castles.
"Honestly, (Canada Day) didn't really mean that much to me until I had my own family, and now it means a lot more," said Darren Yeh, who has attended the festivities in Toronto for the last five or six years. "I'm very lucky to travel around the world. I've seen other places and Canada is a great place to live."
Eight-year-old Diya Patel said Canada is a beautiful place.
"It's fun to have friends and learn new things and explore a lot of new stuff," she said.
Bhuwan Ghimire, who immigrated to Canada from Nepal in 2015, said he hopes all Canadians will try to get along and "work with each other rather than against each other."
"Let's make it a better country," he said.
Meanwhile, his nine-year-old son, Shuvam, was particularly excited about the bouncy castles. "I love this place," he said. "Everything's been fun."
In Ottawa, the national celebration included performances by Bedouin Soundclash and Montreal artist Marie-Mai. People in downtown Ottawa also saw a special fly-past in honour of the Royal Canadian Air Force's 100th anniversary that's set to feature the Snowbirds aerobatics team.
This year's anniversary airshow in Ottawa features a series of aircraft that date back to the Second World War along with planes and helicopters the Air Force is flying today.
People will also get a glimpse of the RCAF's future, courtesy of the U.S. Navy, which has flown in several of its own aircraft including a P-8 Poseidon surveillance plane. Canada signed a $4.3-billion deal to buy a fleet of P-8s last November and they're set to arrive in 2026.
On Parliament Hill, where the main ceremonies had been held in years before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Air Force pipes and drums band and the air cadets bands were set to perform throughout the day, and the SkyHawks parachute team is set to drop by at 3 p.m.
Athletes who are representing Team Canada at the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris this summer will also be part of the events at LeBreton Flats.
The celebrations will be capped off by a fireworks display at the same location around 10 p.m..
Elsewhere, ceremonies, shows and other festivities are taking place in cities across the country.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 1, 2024.
Sarah Ritchie and Maura Forrest, The Canadian Press
