In the blink of an eye, the school year has wrapped up, and the biggest national celebration of the year is coming up. You’ve probably seen the colourful maple leaf logo painted underneath the Olympic Plaza pool, and the various hashtags and ad campaigns from businesses this year, and it is all building up to our nation’s sesquicentennial birthday. This event is truly a celebration of what it means to be Canadian, and 150 years of our nation’s beginning. Take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime event and see how you can be part of the festivities on July 1st and check out some ideas for take the celebration beyond!
Check out the Canada Day activities around Calgary on July 1st
The City of Calgary website has a comprehensive posting of all of the Canada 150 celebrations going on around the city sorted by date or map to suit your needs. This includes a list of all of the events going on around downtown and the entire city on July 1st! Check out their listing here to plan your visit to an event — or to a bunch! Some stand-outs include:
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The Red Ball Project:
quirky and internationally-renowned, this unique art exhibition is the world’s longest street-art project and has traveled to over 25 different cities. Making use of the pre-existing space, you’ve got to get a picture with this.
- Listing here
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Canada Day in Chinatown:
As a Chinese-Canadian, I feel the deep intertwining relationship of my heritage with that of Canada, after all, Chinese settlers were living in Canada for years before confederation, and faced their own social struggles along the way. Celebrate Chinese-Canadian history and culture through a calligraphy gallery, dance, and a market!
- Listing here
Recognize and celebrate Indigenous history
Canada 150 is a celebration of the values of our nation: our acceptance, multiculturalism, and friendliness. However, it is also easy to turn a blind eye to the strife and struggles of our Indigenous People since Confederation. Use this celebration of longstanding Canada’s history as a way to address the current issues that were caused by it. There are several exhibitions, events, and shows you can attend around the city to play your part:
- Making Treaty 7: we have all heard from our assemblies and perhaps recent grad ceremonies that we reside on Treaty 7 land, but what does that mean? See the short 30-minute vignette at 2 different locations and times on July 1st to see the story of two young girls and the T’suu Tina Nation as they realize they are all Treaty people.
- Listing here
- Indigenous Showcase and Powwow: Check out this year’s annual Canada Powwow at Prince’s Island Park’s main stage, but this year, with even more cultural sharing activities. Starting with a traditional morning blessing at 10 am, the dancing and music doesn’t stop until 5 pm so be sure to stop by and stay a while!
- Listing here
Do 3 Things for Canada
Want to continue to give back to our country long after July 1st? Mayor Nenshi is taking a project that stemmed right here in Calgary and brining it to a national audience with the 3 Things for Canada initiative. Check out this pitch from the Mayor’s Youth Council to get inspired:
https://www.facebook.com/YYCMYC/videos/1490381097678632/
How are you planning on celebrating Canada 150? Comment below or tag us @youthareawesome on Instagram to let us know and for a chance to be featured!
Cover image: Canada 150 at Olympic Plaza
