Canada Day festivities draw hundreds to ceremonies, parties across the country

Parks and public spaces across the country were filled with flag-waving parties on Monday as thousands marked Canada Day, with many – including newly minted citizens – celebrating the unique privileges that come with being Canadian.

Under a cloudless July sky, thousands of people dressed in red and white made their way to Ottawa’s LeBreton Flats Park for the annual celebrations in the nation’s capital.

People were in high spirits as they strolled down Wellington Street to the festival site, taking care of airport-style security checks and porta-potties. The sun was shining when things kicked off at noon and many ducked under the umbrellas they brought for shade.

Algonquin elder Claudette Commanda opened the proceedings with an indigenous reflection, speaking of the importance of the canoe as a symbol of hope and healing.

“Learn from the past, appreciate the present and honor the future, because the future belongs to the children. Together let us travel in peace and friendship,” she said.

Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland also spoke. Freeland was met with loud cheers as she said it was time to put aside “our national fashion” and declare that Canada is the best country in the world.

“Most importantly, ours is a country of good and kind people,” she said.

Freeland was there in place of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who offered greetings via video recorded while attending events in St. John’s, NL.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, July 1 begins as Memorial Day, a time to honor soldiers who have died in combat.

This year marked the 100th anniversary of the National War Memorial in St. John’s, and Trudeau attended a funeral ceremony for a Newfoundland soldier who died on the battlefields of France during the First World War.

The Unknown Soldier was flown home from France in May and was buried in a black granite tomb on Monday.

Trudeau also attended a Canada Day party at an arena in nearby Mount Pearl. He shook hands, took selfies and held babies for about 20 minutes while the kids jumped on bouncy castles and the local band KitchenParti played some traditional Newfoundland folk songs.

Back in Ottawa, Melchor Turdanes traveled from Winnipeg to watch his son perform with a choir group. His excitement was palpable as he explained it was his first trip to the capital in the 17 years he’s lived in Canada.

“It’s great, everyone here is friendly and we love the atmosphere,” he said.

After musical performances by Bedouin Soundclash and Montreal artist Marie-Mai, attendees turned their eyes to the sky.

More than 40 planes, helicopters and jets buzzed over Parliament Hill, making their way along the Ottawa River to the main stage, where crowds craned their necks to watch the “parade in the sky.”

The aircraft represented the past, present and future of the Royal Canadian Air Force, explained the two commanders on stage who took turns introducing each – from World War II-era aircraft to modern Chinook and Cyclone helicopters .

The grand finale featured the tremendous roar of a pair of F-35 fighter jets traveling at over 350 knots or around 650 km/h.

Canada has a $19 billion deal to buy 88 planes, but the first of them won’t arrive until 2026. This pair was flown by the Vermont Air National Guard.

It was, for Garrett Morgan and his five-year-old son Owen, a real highlight of the day.

“I’m proud to be a Canadian, and a Canadian from Quebec,” said Morgan, who came from Valcourt, Que., for the day. “I like what Canada stands for: friendly, open.”

At Toronto’s Thomson Memorial Park, families picnicked and children played on bouncy castles.

“Honestly, (Canada Day) didn’t 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 past 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 things,” 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.

His nine-year-old son Shuvam was particularly excited about the bouncy castles. “I love this place,” he said. “It was all fun.”

In Vancouver, 40 people from 18 countries became Canadian citizens in a ceremony that kicked off the festivities at Canada Place.

Beauty Mosquiola came from the Philippines 10 years ago and her husband Dwight Santillan joined her in 2020. The pair said becoming citizens was a big part of their journey as a couple.

“I’m so blessed. I’m so thankful and grateful for Vancouver, for British Columbia, for Canada, giving me the opportunity to be a Canadian citizen at the same time we’re celebrating Canada Day,” Santillan said.

Nicolaj Erhold, who is part Danish and part Austrian, said being able to attend the citizenship ceremony in person rather than virtually was extra special.

“I just want to start my future here. Canada has become my home and I feel even more connected now that I have become a citizen,” he said.

Leslie Benisz has attended every Canada Day citizenship ceremony since 1990 and calls them the highlight of the holiday.

Benisz, who took the oath of citizenship in 1980 after spending his first 10 years in Israel, said he doesn’t take Canada’s freedoms for granted.

“I met so many people who sometimes risked their lives to come here. Sometimes they came from places where their lives were in danger or where they didn’t have the same rights that we have,” he said.

Not all cities marked the occasion in their usual style. Organizers of Montreal’s Canada Day parade announced last month that the event had been canceled, citing politics and logistical red tape for the move.

Festivities in the nation’s capital will conclude with a fireworks display at LeBreton Flats Park around 10 p.m.

Last year’s record fire season disrupted fireworks displays in several cities across the country due to air quality issues, but that wasn’t a factor in this year’s festivities.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 1, 2024.

— With files from Ashley Joannou in Vancouver, Sarah Smellie in St. John’s, NL and Rianna Lim from Toronto

Sarah Ritchie and Maura Forrest, The Canadian Press