Canada, The True North Strong and Free, is throwing a party: all year long.
That’s right, 2017 marks Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation. The country is threaded with celebrations and festivals radiating from the big sesquicentennial festivities on July 1st—Canada Day. If you’re up for some revelry and looking to explore Canada’s great northern yonder, this is the year to do it!
Here’s a gander at the best Canada 150 celebrations:
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Visit Vancouver for the First Nations Festival: Vancouver’s celebrating Canada 150 with drums and an arts and culture festival stretching from July 19th into September. The major events include The Drum is Calling Festival, The Gathering of Canoes and the Walk for Reconciliation. The events celebrate Canada’s rich indigenous history, in particular honoring the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.
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Get Nautical in Québec City: Québec City serves as Canada’s main rallying point for Rendez-Vous 2017, a transatlantic Tall Ships Regatta that sets off in Great Britain in April and concludes in Le Havre, France. To celebrate Canada 150, the fleet of 40 grand ships lay anchor in Québec City from July 18-23 with plenty of activities planned to celebrate Canada’s maritime heritage on water and on land.
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Pick up a Discover Pass: Dig deep into Canada’s history, heritage spaces and national parks with the Discovery Pass offering free admission to Parks Canada destinations, from coast to coast… to coast. With 47 parks and 168 historic sites to choose from, including the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, there’s no better way to celebrate Canada than experiencing it.
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Hear a Nation Sing: The Toronto Symphony Orchestra celebrates with 45+ concerts and 40+ orchestras and 150 years of a collaboration across a diverse musical landscape. It’s a musical mosaic stringing together orchestras across the nation—celebrating and bringing to life Canada’s aural heritage and bringing voice to the future.
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Step into SESQUI: Sesqui, a multimedia, 360º immersive journey into Canada’s soul, is an innovative and inspiring way to celebrate Canada 150. The nomadic technology-powered dome features virtual reality storytelling, online activities and learning events, and interactive content. It’s a sensory, cinematic, emotional experience that will make you say “Oh cool. Oh Canada.”
Of course, Canadian hotspots such as Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Charlottetown will be partying it up throughout the year leading up to Canada’s big birthday bash. Canada’s full of impatient enthusiasm and joie de vivre. Join them!
With our Blackfish Waters Tours taking off from Vancouver Island and Québec Kayaking and Camping Tours setting forth from Québec City, there’s plenty of opportunities to join in on the Canada 150 fun, eh?
