Canada Place
July 1 and 2
Jack Poole Plaza and surrounding city streets
Various times
This year Canada Day celebrations at Canada Place, presented by the Port of Vancouver, take place over two days. For 30 years Canada Place has organized the largest Canada Day celebration outside of Ottawa and, this year, it is pulling out all the stops in honour of 150 years of Confederation. Here are some of the highlights:
- Daytime events on five stages include performances by Sam Roberts, FEFE, Emerson Drive, Hey Ocean!, Dragonette, Madeline Merlo, the Matinee and many more.
- Citizenship ceremony welcoming 150 new Canadians
- Coast Capital Savings Youth Zone
- Canadian Forces Zone with displays and interactive exhibits
- Canada150 Zone
- Canada 150 Light Show: June 22 through to the end of July
- North Point Lounge serving beer and wine, presented by Steam Whistle Brewing
- Kids Zone in Harbour Green Park (July 1 only)
- Canadian Oath reaffirmation ceremony presented by CIBC
- Multi-community fireworks show simulcast by Rock 101 (July 1)
- Pancake breakfast (July 2)
- Canada150 parade through downtown Vancouver (July 2)
Visit canadaplace.ca.
Granville Island
July 1: all day
There are too many events taking place on Granville Island to list here, but some highlights include the Official Canada Day Ceremony, the MELA! Festivals Pavilion and Stage (a lively bazaar with music, dance and food from around the world), TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival concerts, the free Family Pavilion, bike-decorating workshop and parade and the Little Paws Agility shows behind the Kids Market. Help create a maple leaf mural, have fun with water, enjoy performing buskers and roving characters and much more. Visit granvilleisland.com.
YYR Food Fest
June 27 to July 3
215 West 1st Ave.
New this year is local and international culinary talent collaborating on dinners, a giant outdoor brunch and a Canada Day barbecue with live music. This is all in addition to Food For Thought, a food-centric TED Talks-style speaker series — the festival’s flagship event – and the Street Food Showdown, a gathering of 80-plus food carts, restaurants, wineries and breweries. All of this takes place at the YVR Food Fest site in Olympic Village. Visit yvrfoodfest.com.
Sports B.C. Summer Warm-Up
Vancouver Art Gallery
July 1: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Yoga by YYoga at 9:15 a.m.
Sport B.C. and the City of Vancouver are presenting the Summer Warm-Up with family-friendly activities all day. This is an opportunity to try new sports and meet players from the Canadian National Women's Field Hockey team.
Prizes, food trucks and a DJ round out the event.
For more information visit sportbc.com.
Community centres
July 1
Celebrate Canada's 150th birthday with your community. Enjoy live entertainment, children's activities and games, bouncy castles, food and fun.
Grandview Park
12:30 to 3 p.m.
2929 East 22nd Ave.
12 to 4 p.m.
1318 Cartwright St.
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
6810 Main St.
12 to 4 p.m.
Barbecues
Mamie Taylor’s
251 East Georgia St.
July 1: 2 p.m.
Calling all barbecue fans. RibFest 2017, the eighth annual ribs competition in East Van, will heat things up on Canada Day at Mamie Taylor’s in Chinatown, sponsored by Strange Fellows Brewing, Parkside Brewery and Mount Gay Rum. At 2 p.m. on Canada Day, Mamie Taylor’s will fire up the outdoor grills in front of the restaurant and welcome returning champions Dixie's BBQ, Karl Gregg from Blueprint Hospitality Group, Dan Olsen from Railtown Café, Doug Stevens from Merchant’s Workshop and Mamie Taylor’s own Jeff Koop. Visit mamietaylors.ca.
Great Canadian BBQ at H2 Rotisserie & Bar
1601 Bayshore Dr.
July 1: 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Don’t just wing it this Canada Day, treat yourself by celebrating on H2 Rotisserie & Bar’s poolside patio. Bring the gang and experience the taste of the true north with a traditional barbecue al fresco featuring your choice of tenderloin steak, prawns and scallops skewers, salmon fillet or a hearty beef burger. Each entrée includes your choice of signature kale quinoa or summer greens salad, corn on the cob or grilled vegetables, and a Nanaimo bar or butter tart to top it off. For an additional cost, add a skewer of prawns and scallops and spice up your picnic with a flight of local craft beer or B.C. wine. Enjoy live tunes, local spirits and outdoor games. Reserve your spot online via OpenTable or call 604- 691-6966.
Vancouver Maritime Museum
1905 Ogden Point
July 1: noon to 4 p.m.
Celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday with family-friendly crafts and activities, experience multicultural Stories on Wheels with Pangaea Arts, get creative with a fishing boat printmaking workshop for children and explore the RCMP Vessel St. Roch, a National Historic Site of Canada.
Visit vancouvermaritimemuseum.com.
Vancouver Convention Centre: Open House
1055 Canada Place
July 1: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Explore the world’s first LEED Platinum-certified convention centre, home to the renowned TED Conference and other events from around the globe. Learn about the facility’s many features including its marine habitat and six-acre living roof, visit the new Event Expo, learn about the convention and meetings business and participate in fun family-friendly activities. Free. Visit vancouverconventioncentre.com.
Oh, Canada — the True North Strong and Funny
The Improv Centre
1502 Duranleau St., Granville Island
June 29
Vancouver TheatreSports League takes a comedic look at what makes us uniquely Canadian by poking fun at the many stereotypes that come out of this great country. Based on audience suggestions, the cast will lampoon such Canadian institutions as Heritage Minutes, the Mounties, winter, our handsome prime minister, hockey, lumberjacks or Timmy’s coffee, just to name a few. As this is improv and the show is made up on the spot, no two shows are ever the same. Celebrate Canada 150 by joining the improv gang for some distinctively Canadian laughs. You’ll be nicer for it.
Visit vtsl.com/show/oh-canada.
Canada 150 on Robson Street
July 1: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Robson Street Business Association is teaming up with the West End Business Improvement Association to celebrate Canada Day 150 with music, entertainment, treats and giveaways.
VIVA Vancouver is launching a pilot pedestrian plaza on Bute Street, which will be transformed into a colourful outdoor lounge, complete with tables, chairs, umbrellas and a piano. To kick the day off, RYU Apparel is hosting a morning kettle bell workout in the space from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. The inaugural Timber Ball Hockey Tournament benefitting the Britannia After School Hockey program, takes place on Jervis Street with local brewery teams, Timber/Forage; Bomber Brewing; and B.A.S.H facing off to win the coveted TBHT trophy. On Cardero Street, WE Arts will have a large outdoor display featuring more than 10 artists and musicians. At 2 p.m., Canada 150 will be celebrated with the national anthem and maple flavoured mini cupcakes.
500 yogis
McArthurGlen designer outlet mall
1000-7899 Templeton Station Rd.
McArthurGlen is celebrating Canada Day in true Vancouver style with the second annual mass outdoor yoga session with Lole White Tour On the Road. This stop at McArthurGlen includes 500 yogis dressed in white from head to toe. Tickets are on sale now with partial proceeds going to KidSport Richmond, a national non-profit organization, which provides financial assistance for sports registration fees and equipment to kids. Beyond the session, there will be a fun-filled day of activities at McArthurGlen, including live music performances from the Vancouver Orchestral Club Symphony, a family-friendly scavenger hunt and face painting.
