OTTAWA, May 27, 2010 - The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, and Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the National Capital Commission (NCC), today announced the program of celebrations for July 1, 2010, in Canada's Capital Region. This year, Canadians will welcome Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh at the Noon Show.
In addition to the presence of the Royal Couple, the Canada Day events will highlight the Canadian Naval Centennial, the 125th birthday of Canada's First National Park, and the 400th anniversary of Cupids, Newfoundland and Labrador--the first English settlement in Canada.
"This year, we will have the honour of celebrating the Canada Day Noon Show in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. Under the theme Our Year to Shine: Canada Welcomes the World, we will highlight our achievements as a nation and our hopes for the future," said Minister Moore. "The show will also feature some of our best performers during this very special day. Join with your family and friends and celebrate your pride in being Canadian!"
"The Canada Day celebrations in Canada's Capital Region are a unique opportunity for the NCC to promote Canada's rich and diverse culture," said Ms. Lemay. "On July 1, Canada's Capital Region will undoubtedly be the ideal place to have a memorable, typically Canadian experience."
Activities on July 1 in Canada's Capital Region will take place at three official sites: Parliament Hill and Major's Hill Park in Ottawa, and Jacques Cartier Park in Gatineau.
Parliament Hill
On July 1, thousands of residents and visitors will converge on Parliament Hill to take part in the celebrations. In the morning they can attend the Peace Tower carillon concert, the flag-raising ceremony, the Changing of the Guard, and the impressive RCMP Musical Ride.
Canada Day Noon Show
This year, the Canada Day Noon Show will include the traditional flypast of CF 18s and Snowbirds. Geneviève Borne of Quebec and Ron MacLean of Ontario will be masters of ceremonies.
The Noon Show will feature:
- Ontario group Barenaked Ladies, winner of eight Juno Awards and a World Music Award
- Quebec's Isabelle Boulay, an established artist who received the ADISQ Female Performer of the Year Award in four consecutive years
- Ontario's Johnny Reid, winner of the 2010 Juno Award for Best Country Album of the Year
- Ontario's Andrea Lindsay, who won the 2010 Juno Award for Best Francophone Album
- Quebec's Marjo
- New Brunswick's Jean-François Breau with Marie-Ève Janvier (Québec)
- Quebec's Marie-Josée Lord
- Alberta's Jan Lisiecki
- Saskatchewan's Dione Taylor
- Nova Scotia's Christina Martin
- Quebec's Samian
- Ontario group The Campbell Brothers
- Quebec's Lynda Thalie
- British Columbia's Wayne Lavallee
- Quebec's Shauit
- Quebec's Blueprint Cru dance company
- Quebec's Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir
- Newfoundland and Labrador's Hey Rosetta!
- Quebec's H'sao, a musical group originally from Chad
The Noon Show is a presentation of the Department of Canadian Heritage in collaboration with the NCC. It will be broadcast live on television through CBC, the CBC News Network, Radio Canada, and RDI.
In the afternoon, clown and poetry performances featuring Canada's best street entertainers--including the Gargouilles, a trio of outstanding stiltwalkers--will delight the crowd on Parliament Hill.
Canada Day Evening Show
Starting at 6:30 p.m., thousands of Canadians will gather on Parliament Hill to take part in our country's birthday celebrations, with performers from across the land.
The Canada Day Evening Show will feature Ontario's Barenaked Ladies, Quebec's Isabelle Boulay, Ontario's Johnny Reid, Ontario's Andrea Lindsay, Quebec's Marjo, British Columbia's Wayne Lavallee, Ontario's Michael Kaeshammer, Alberta's Cadence Weapon, British Columbia's Alex Cuba, and Saskatchewan's Dione Taylor. Other performers will join this impressive list of Canadian talent.
Presented by the NCC, the Canada Day Evening Show is sponsored by the Chicken Farmers of Canada and President's Choice®. A one-hour show, produced by Donald K Donald (DKD-TV), will be broadcast by CBC, Radio-Canada, and bold. The evening show will also be broadcast on CBC Radio 2 and SRC Espace Musique and on the CBC's and Radio-Canada's web platforms.
Jacques Cartier Park: A Splash of Fun
At Jacques Cartier Park in Gatineau, residents and visitors can participate in a host of activities based on the theme of water. Don't miss the Flying Fools, who will give spectators cold sweats with their high-voltage dives. This famous show combines comedy, skill, and thrilling high dives of 24 metres.
Major's Hill Park: A Canadian Cultural Extravaganza!
Canada Day at Major's Hill Park will include a wide range of shows, workshops, and interactive activities highlighting Canada's folk arts and its cultural diversity. Visitors will be able to show their patriotism and pride by retaking the oath of Canadian citizenship (Great Canadian Oath) in the presence of Citizenship Judge Suzanne Pinel, C.M.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore the Avenue of Canada's Cultural Capitals 2010. Craftspeople from Winnipeg, Manitoba; Saguenay, Quebec; and Saint John, New Brunswick, will demonstrate their talent and display their works.
Ottawa Jazz Festival in Confederation Park
Through the generous assistance of the NCC, the Ottawa Jazz Festival will present free performances in Confederation Park on Canada Day. In addition, for a fourth consecutive year the NCC and the Ottawa Jazz Festival are joining together to give young Canadian jazz musicians an unforgettable experience in our country's capital: the Jazz Youth Summit.
President's Choice® Canada Day Fireworks Display
approx. 10:00 p.m.
For many visitors, the culmination of Canada Day is the President's Choice®Canada Day fireworks display. The best spots to see the display include Jacques Cartier Park and the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Major's Hill Park in Ottawa, Victoria Island, and the banks of the Ottawa River. The dazzling show will light up the sky above the Ottawa River.
Canada Day on Facebook and Twitter
Canadians across the land are invited to register as Canada Day followers on Facebook, and share their pride in being Canadian and their Canada Day experiences. Also, get the latest Canada Day news by registering on the Twitter Canada Day page.
Building a greener capital
In June 2009, the NCC announced an environmental strategy to protect and enhance the environment in Canada's Capital Region. The environmental strategy defines five action areas affecting major NCC activities: reducing waste, enhancing biodiversity, preventing pollution, leading in environmental practices, and combatting climate change. For Canada Day, the NCC has already put in place measures to reduce the quantity of waste and increase recycling, and it measured the carbon footprint of its activities during Canada Day 2009. Canada Day 2010 will comply with the principle of carbon neutrality.
For more information on Canada Day celebrations in the National Capital Region and on access to the sites for persons with limited mobility, members of the public may contact the NCC at 613-239 5000, 1-800-465 1867, 613 239 5090 (TTY), or 1 866 661 3530 (TTY, toll-free). You can also visit the www.canadaday.gc.ca website or go to the Capital Infocentre at 90 Wellington Street in Ottawa.
For more information on the Canada Day Noon Show, visit the Canadian Heritage website at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca.
The NCC is proud to organize Canada Day in Canada's Capital Region with support from Canadian Heritage and its nationwide sponsor, President's Choice®, and from SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Rogers Wireless, and its other sponsors.
The NCC also wishes to thank the following partners: Cupids 400 Inc., the Ottawa Jazz Festival, the Canadian Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Department of Canadian Heritage, Library and Archives Canada, OC Transpo, Parks Canada, the Cultural Capitals Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation / Radio-Canada, the Ottawa Police Service, the Services de police de la Ville de Gatineau, the Société de transport de l'Outaouais, Public Works and Government Services Canada, the City of Ottawa, and the City of Gatineau.
