Canada Day festivities around town: Aylmer Legion marks a milestone

Tashi Farmilo

Canada Day celebrations run from a milestone party at the Aylmer Legion to street festivities in Old Hull, Chelsea and the Pontiac and the main national shows on the Ottawa side of the river, giving residents plenty of options on July 1.

The Aylmer Legion has two reasons to celebrate. Branch #33 is marking 95 years in town alongside the 100th birthday of the Royal Canadian Legion, and it is wrapping both into a free outdoor family party that runs from 11 am to 5 pm at 59 Bancroft Street.

A flag raising at 11 am opens the day, and a barbecue turning out burgers, hot dogs and soft drinks keeps going through the afternoon. An art exhibition stays open from 11 am - 4 pm, and the band One Night Stand plays a set starting at 1 pm. Younger guests get a bouncy castle, face painting and craft tables, while a balloon twister, a bean bag toss and other games fill the gaps. Stephen Young brings a live chainsaw carving demonstration, and Amusement Saute-Partout supplies the inflatables. A market of local makers runs through it all, with tables from Blossoms & Crafts, Créations Mistyk MG, Mimicreart, Jobin Arti, Perles Namo Beads, TMJewellery, Michele Sabad, Glow Goddess, KC 3D Prints and Young Carvings.

Old Hull leans toward families through the afternoon before the evening turns into a street party. Haviah Mighty and Qualité Motel take the stage ahead of a closing set from Loud at 10:15 pm, timed to land just after the fireworks.

In Chelsea, the Old Chelsea Square celebration sets up on the Terrasse du Square at 248 chemin Old Chelsea, a free family afternoon with a DJ, face painting, inflatable games and food and drink. The event traditionally runs from noon to 6 pm.

Further west, the Pontiac splits its celebrations across villages. Quyon goes first on June 30, centred on the Centre communautaire et culturel de Quyon at 2 rue Ferry, with a parade starting at 7 pm, children's activities in the park, and fireworks over the Ottawa River at dusk. Shawville takes its turn on July 1, its Canada Day parade starting at 11:30 am from the bus office on West Street.

The biggest crowds gather at LeBreton Flats Park, the spine of the regional program and a short hop from Pimisi station. The opening ceremony begins at noon and wraps by 1:30 pm, blending live music with an Order of Canada investiture for the second year running. Alessia Cara, Loud and TOBi feature among the performers, and astronaut Jeremy Hansen sits on the guest list. The afternoon fills out with a community mural guided by artist Stephanie Babij, the Festive Avenue zone, photo booths and a dance stage led by DJ Montana.

The night belongs to a two-hour concert billed as Celebrating our Canada! running from 8 - 10 pm at the same park with live cut-ins from Moncton and Winnipeg. The Barenaked Ladies and Alessia Cara top a bill that also takes in Pierre Lapointe, Lisa LeBlanc, Diane Dufresne, Isabelle Boulay and Paul Langlois of the Tragically Hip.

Parliament Hill handles the formal traditions, with the Changing of the Guard, the Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums, air cadets and a Snowbirds flypast at 4 pm. The Supreme Court lawn keeps a gentler pace, offering outdoor yoga, drop-in workshops, magic and improv shows, and guided tours of the building.

The day ends the way it always does, with the Tim Hortons Canada Day fireworks going up near LeBreton Flats Park at 10 pm. The surrounding streets close to traffic, and the park and nearby blocks give the clearest views.