The city of Ottawa and several parks in the capital were covered in a sea of red, white and rain as residents and visitors celebrated Canada’s 156.th birthday.
Nature forced the temporary suspension of events at Lebreton Flats, Parliament Hill and the suburbs as heavy rain lashed the area on Saturday afternoon.
The weather cleared in time for the Canada Day evening show at Lebreton Flats to go ahead, and shows resumed at Petrie Island, Stitsville, Riverside South and other areas. Fireworks at Kanata, Beacon Hill and Dunrobin have been canceled for Saturday evening due to the weather. Organizers of the Kanata Canada Day celebration say the fireworks will take place at Walter Baker Park on Sunday, July 2 at 10 p.m.
Earlier in the day, thousands packed Lebreton Flats to start Canada’s birthday party with the day’s show.
“The world and our country are facing incredible challenges right now,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the crowd.
“War has returned to Europe; Climate change is making extreme weather like wildfires, floods and hurricanes worse; Inflation, though getting better, is still putting a real strain on families. But whether we Whatever challenges we face, we will get through it and work the same way, always staying true to our values.”
The day’s celebrations included performances by Tyler Shaw, Pierre Quenders, Josiane and Dyt. The evening show featured performances by Jane Arden, Roxane Bruneau, JoJo Mason and Frances D’Amour.
“I’m so excited to be celebrating my first Canada Day in Ottawa,” said a person from Lebreton Flats.
Another visitor said, “I traveled from Rhode Island for Canada Day.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomes people attending a Canada Day celebration on July 1, 2023 at Lebreton Flats, Ottawa. Some festivities will take place around Parliament Hill in Canada’s capital, but the main entertainment will take place in Lebreton Flats, just west of the city, where festivities are expected to return to normal this year. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
The Canada Day daytime show at Lebreton Flats featured a special citizenship ceremony, in which 17 new Canadians took the oath of citizenship.
“We’re lucky to have that opportunity,” Jessica St-Dic said after becoming a Canadian citizen.
Ralph Saint-Dic said, “I feel very special to be welcomed in this way.”
The new Canadians are from Burundi, Cameroon, Haiti, France and Kuwait.
“Throughout history people have looked upon Canada as a wonderful place, but now people are coming to Canada to proudly call it home and to build their lives and our communities and our country,” Trudeau said.
“That’s why today we celebrate the fact that there are now 40 million people living in Canada.”
Hot and humid weather capped Ottawa for Canada Day festivities, while a blanket of smoke from wildfires in northeastern Ontario and Quebec hung over the region.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to the fire fighters fighting the forest fires in other parts of the country.
“In this smoky air of Ottawa, thank you to the first responders and firefighters… who are keeping us safe during these difficult times,” Trudeau said.
Canada Day crowd at Lebreton Flats in Ottawa. July 1, 2023. (CTV News)
Several protesters attended a Canada Day party in Lebreton Flats, holding signs that read ‘Trudeau must go.’
Steve Ball, president of the Ottawa-Gatineau Hotel Association, told 580 CFRA that the city’s hotels are well booked.
“Properties across the city are reporting pretty heavy loads tonight, so we’re very excited and very optimistic that it’s going to be a great evening,” he said. “Canada Day is a very dependable event for us, attracting people from across the region. We would like to see more expansion, especially over the weekend. It is significantly reduced when Canada Day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, But Saturday night—solid.”
Ottawa Police say officers from the RCMP, OPP and 10 municipal police forces are in Ottawa to assist with security operations.
“That expanded perimeter put some strain on our resources,” Acting Superintendent. Frank D’Oste said.
Police say there will be an increased police presence throughout the downtown core and Lebreton Flats this weekend, with a “significant presence” in Byward Market, Sandy Hill and Lowertown.
Police are also running their ‘MarketSafe’ initiative at Byward Market, which will see an increased police presence between 8pm and 3am every night this weekend.
Canada Day schedule changes
Canadian Heritage postponed afternoon events at Lebreton Flats due to severe storms. as of 6:30 p.m., Canadian Heritage said the evening show at Lebreton Flats is underway at 8 p.m., with fireworks at 10 p.m.
The Beacon Hill Community Association has canceled tonight’s fireworks display at Loyola Park. The Dunrobin Community Association also canceled its fireworks display.
Tonight’s fireworks in Kanata have been postponed due to the weather. Organizers of the Kanata Canada Day celebration say the fireworks will take place on Sunday, July 2 at 10 p.m. at Walter Baker Park.
Canada Day celebrations will go ahead this evening with fireworks at Petrie Island and Barrhaven. The Riverside South Community Association says the fireworks are still scheduled for tonight.
The Greeley Community Association says fireworks are still set off at the Greeley Community Center until 10 p.m.
Canada Day festivities in Stitsville resumed Saturday evening, with fireworks still scheduled.
OC Transpo
OC Transpo bus and O-Train service is free all day until 4 a.m. Sunday. The STO service is also free in Gatineau.
OC Transo says O-Train Line 1 and buses will operate on a special Canada Day schedule with increased evening frequency.
O-train will run from 6 am to 2 am
Canada Day transit service sign at Rideau station. July 1, 2023. (Ted Raymond/CTV News Ottawa)
Tour of the Lebreton Flats
OC Transpo and Canadian Heritage say that if you are traveling toward the Lebreton Flats entrance on Wellington Street, take O-Train Line 1 or a bus to Lyon station.
Access to Pimici station will be restricted throughout the day. All trains will bypass Pimici station between 8 pm and 10 pm
after the fireworks At Lebreton Flats, westbound O-Train vehicles will bypass Pimlici station.
Customers traveling west in the neighborhoods of Ottawa West, Nepean, Barrhaven, Kanata or Stitsville will be directed to the Albert Street bus service at Booth Street.
Customers traveling east from Lebreton Flats can board a train at Pimlici Station.
prohibited items
Canadian Heritage says the following items will not be allowed at Lebreton Flats on Canada Day
- Bags over 35.5 cm X 30.5 cm X 19 cm
- alcohol
- firearms
- Bomb
- Fireworks
No dogs or pets are allowed at the Canada Day celebration in Lebreton Flats.
roads closed
The City of Ottawa says the following roads will be closed from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday to Sunday.
- Bank Street from Albert Street to Wellington Street
- Bay Street from Albert Street to Wellington Street
- Booth Street from Albert Street to Rue Eddy, Gatineau
- Bronson Avenue from Slater Street to Sparks Street
- Fleet Street from Leet Street to Booth Street
- Kent Street from Albert Street to Wellington Street
- Late Street from Fleet Street to Wellington Street
- Lloyd Street from Fleet Street to Lee Street
- Lyon Street from Albert Street to Wellington Street
- Metcalfe Street from Queen Street to Wellington Street
- O’Connor Street from Queen Street to Wellington Street
- Portage Bridge from Wellington Street to Rue Laurier, Gatineau
- Queen Street from Bronson Avenue to Bank Street
- Slidell Street/Onigma Street from Lemieux Island to Bayview Station Road
- From Parkdale Avenue to Wellington Street Sir John A. McDonald Parkway
- Sparks Street from Bronson Avenue to Lyon Street North
- Vimy Place from Wellington Street to Booth Street
- Wellington Street from Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway to Elgin Street
The following roads will be closed from 9am to 12am on Saturday
- Albert Street from Bronson Street to Bayview Station Road
- Slater Street from Albert Street to Bronson Avenue
greetings from america
US Ambassador to Canada David L. Cohen wished all Canadians a Happy Canada Day on behalf of US President Joe Biden and the people of the United States of America.
“As Canada celebrates the 156th anniversary of Confederation, I am reminded that our friendship largely predates Confederation. This year, we will celebrate nearly two centuries of diplomatic relations between our two countries as our The consulate is marking the 190th year of its opening,” Cohen said in a statement Saturday morning.
“Our historic partnership is on display over the past month, with U.S. and Canadian firefighters standing together fighting the unprecedented number of fires that have put people and homes and businesses at risk across Canada. Nearly 1,800 U.S. firefighters have traveled to help their Canadian counterparts without a second thought, just as Canadians help Americans when we need them.”
Cohen ended with a wink and a nod at our shared language and its subtle differences.
“And so, to our Canadian friends, neighbors and family: Happy Canada Day! Bonne fête du Canada!”
With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Natalie Van Rooy, Jackie Perez and Ted Raymond