The City shares Canada Day Get Together plans

In-person Canada Day is back this year at three new downtown locations – Fort Calgary (750 9 Ave. S.E.), Olympic Plaza (228 8 Ave. S.W.) and St. Patrick’s Island Park (1300 Zoo Rd. N.E.) - celebrating the Original Peoples of Canada and what it means to be Canadian at The City’s annual July 1 get together.

“We are so excited to get together again on Canada Day,” says Jennifer Thompson, Manager of Arts & Culture for The City of Calgary. “We’ve missed this important community celebration for the last two years. Now, we can’t wait to see crowds of Calgarians gathering together downtown and celebrating Indigenous culture, live music, food trucks, face painting, spectacular fireworks and more.”

Canada Day Get Together details:  

· Indigenous Showcase and Powwow at Fort Calgary from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a focus on education and reconciliation with Indigenous leader and Founder of the Orange Shirt Society Phyllis Webstad, teaching tipis, Indigenous artisan market, Metis jigging, and Powwow with opening prayer, Grande Entry, dancing and resting of the flags.

· TD Canada Day Stage with CBC Calgary Eyeopener’s Angela Knight as emcee featuring an all-Canadian line-up of musical performances from 3 to 11 p.m., with rock band Sloan headlining at 9:45 p.m.

· Live, outdoor ArtsXpeditions performances from Arts Commons on the Olympic Plaza stage from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring a variety of local musicians performing jazz, Indigenous, Afro-Fusion, hip-hop, folk, country and more.

· Family friendly entertainment through St. Patrick’s Island Park on three stages showcasing music, arts and theatre, fun activities, and outdoor spaces for playing, eating, and enjoying the day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

· Thanks to support from Heritage Canada, the finale of the day will be a fireworks show from the Municipal Building (800 Macleod Tr. S.E.) with music soundtrack on CJSW 90.9FM at 11 p.m. The fireworks show will include a blessing from Stoney Nakoda Elder Cindy Daniels and a message from Mayor Jyoti Gondek and be available on livestream at Calgary.ca/CanadaDay or seen from anywhere with a view of the Calgary Municipal Building.

"Canada’s strength draws upon the diversity of our many cultures,” says Mayor Jyoti Gondek. "As we reflect on our past, we remember the people whose achievements are etched in the history books. At the same time, we also must look at the perspectives that have been excluded from history to further our truth and reconciliation commitment. I encourage you to take part in the City's largest annual celebration as we honour our past and move forward together to embrace Canada's exciting future."

We are honoured to have Phyllis Webstad be part of the Indigenous Showcase and Powwow. She will be speaking from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. about her story of residential school survival, raising awareness about the impacts of the residential school system and providing opportunity for education and reconciliation.

The East Village Street Fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be a great way to support local vendors on July 1. There will be a break in performances on the TD Canada Day Stage from 6 to 7:30 p.m. while Olympic Plaza, St. Patrick’s Island Park and the Indigenous Showcase and Powwow activities will end at 5 p.m. Check out Tourism Calgary’s Canada Day in Calgary site to support downtown businesses before and after the fireworks.

“In addition to more than 100 entertainers and performers, we also need volunteers to make Canada Day a great success,” says Thompson. Volunteers are needed at all three locations in a variety of roles. Anyone interested can learn more and sign up at Calgary.ca/CanadaDay.

Please consider walking, biking, or taking transit downtown for Canada Day. Visit Calgary Transit to plan your route. Check Calgary.ca/CanadaDay for road closures and parking bans.

Visit Calgary.ca/CanadaDay for everything you need to know about the Canada Day Get Together.

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