• By: OLM Staff

Get Ready to Celebrate: Canada Day in Ottawa!

The 158th Canada Day is just around the corner, and Ottawa is the place to be! Whether you’re heading downtown for the national celebration or taking part in a local community event, there are plenty of ways to show your Canadian pride.

Downtown Celebration Highlights
Canadian Heritage is hosting the country’s biggest birthday bash right here in Ottawa, with special events taking place at Parliament Hill, LeBreton Flats Park, and in front of the Supreme Court of Canada. For the full schedule and event details, visit Canadian Heritage’s Canada Day website.

Pro Tip: Take Transit
Downtown will be very busy, so the best way to get there is by using OC Transpo. Buses, trains, and Para Transpo will be free all day, and fare gates at stations will be open—no need to buy a ticket. If you’re heading downtown, plan ahead and arrive early.

Main Event Sites
At LeBreton Flats, expect a full day of interactive activities, performances, and dancing. Over on Parliament Hill, catch the Changing of the Guard ceremony, the Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums, and a Snowbirds flyover at 4 p.m.

Transit Details
All LRT stations will be open this year—yeah!, and OC Transpo is adding extra service throughout the day and into the night:

O-Train Line 1: 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
O-Train Lines 2 and 4: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Para Transpo: Until 3 a.m.

Evening Show: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The evening concert lineup includes Sarah McLachlan, Randy Bachman, Mitsou, Amanda Marshall, Roch Voisine, Tom Cochrane, Coeur de Pirate, Josh Ross, Dumas, Ivan Boivin-Flamand, and Ottawa’s own Talk. Isabelle Racicot will host.

Fireworks Finale
The Tim Hortons Canada Day Fireworks will light up the sky from 10 to 10:15 p.m., marking the end of a full day of celebration.

OC Transpo service after the fireworks:

Eastbound O-Train Line 1 service will be available from Pimisi Station
Special westbound bus service will operate from Albert Street at Booth Street
Lyon Station will be open for O-Train Line 1 in both directions
Bayview Station will provide service for both Line 1 and Line 2
Para Transpo customers will be picked up at the same designated drop-off point on Vimy Place, across from the War Museum’s group entrance.

Watching from Home
If you’re avoiding the crowds, you can still catch the action live. The noon-hour show (12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.) and the evening concert (8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.) will be broadcast on CBC Television, CBC Radio, CBC Gem, and the CBC YouTube channel.

Rideau Hall
If you’re looking for a quieter Canada Day experience, Rideau Hall offers a peaceful and picturesque alternative. On Canada Day (and all holiday Mondays), the Ceremonial Guard performs the Relief of the Sentries ceremony on the hour at Sussex Gate and in front of the residence—complete with bagpipes, scarlet tunics, and bearskin caps.

You can stroll the beautifully landscaped grounds, including gardens, greenhouses, and flower beds, which are open from early morning until about an hour before sunset. It’s a lovely escape from the downtown hustle.

Free guided tours of the residence are also available throughout the day, including a chance to see the historic State Rooms and the unique Tent Room. Tours run daily all summer long, including on statutory holidays like Canada Day.

Museums
Looking to spend some time indoors? Many of Ottawa’s national museums are open and free on Canada Day, with extended hours and special programming. Most are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., making it easy to pop in between other festivities—and cool off while you are there!

Canada Day Celebrations Across Ottawa

In addition to the national celebration downtown, many neighbourhoods across Ottawa keep the Canada Day spirit alive with their own community events. From family fun to fireworks, these local gatherings are a great way to celebrate close to home.

The City of Ottawa has compiled a complete list of events happening across the city:

• Barrhaven: This year, Canada Day in Barrhaven will take place over several days in Clarke Field Park (93 Houlahan St., Nepean). The festivities began on Tuesday, June 24, and continue through Sunday, July 6, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on most days (except Tuesday, July 1, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.).

• Beacon Hill: Fireworks will be displayed at Loyola Park (956 Loyola Ave., Gloucester) on Tuesday, July 1, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. In the event of rain, fireworks will be postponed to Wednesday, July 2, from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

• Downtown – ByWard Market: Canada Day celebrations in ByWard Market will take place on Tuesday, July 1, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Roads will be closed on York Street from Sussex Drive to Dalhousie Street.

• Greely: Greely Canada Day will take place on Tuesday, July 1, from noon to 10:30 p.m. at the Greely Community Centre/Andy Shields Park (1448 Meadow Dr., Greely). Partial road closures for setup and parking restrictions will be in place from Meadow Drive to Parkway Road, and from Parkway Road to Bank Street.

• Kanata – Otto’s Race: Otto’s Canada Day Road Race will take place on Tuesday, July 1, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Sandwell Green Park (60 Leacock Dr., Kanata) and associated roadways. Roads will be closed on The Parkway between Reaney Ct./Leacock Dr. and Teron Rd.

• Kanata – Walter Baker: Canada Day in Kanata will take place on Tuesday, July 1, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. in Walter Baker Park (100 Charlie Rogers Pl., Stittsville). Roads will be closed on Charlie Rogers Place from Ron Maslin Way to the Kanata Recreation Centre.

• Orléans – Ouellette Park: A fireworks display in Ouellette Park will take place on Tuesday, July 1, from 9:30 to 10:00 p.m. In the event of rain, fireworks will be postponed to Wednesday, July 2, from 9:30 to 10 p.m. The sidewalk bordering the park on Gerry Lalonde Drive will be closed.

• Orléans – Petrie Island: Canada Day Orléans celebrations will take place on Tuesday, July 1, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. in Petrie Island Park (795 Trim Rd., Orléans).

• Stittsville – CARDELREC: Canada Day in Stittsville will take place on Tuesday, July 1 from 6 to 11 p.m. at the CARDELREC Recreation Complex (1500 Shea Rd., Stittsville) and the Sports fields at Sacred Heart High School (5870 Abbott St., Stittsville).

• Stittsville – Legion: Stittsville Legion Canada Day Promenade will take place on Tuesday, July 1, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Stittsville Royal Canadian Legion (1481 Stittsville Main St., Stittsville).

For more information on Canada Day festivities in Ottawa, visit the city’s Canada Day web page.