Happy Canada Day across the community

As Canada turns 148 years old on July 1, here’s a roundup of local events to help you mark and celebrate the occasion.

Cover your bases by checking out events in Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford and Sackville.

“A lot of people are able to have the holiday off to celebrate with their family and friends, so our approach is to plan a variety of different events that will appeal to as many residents as possible,” says Tiffany Chase, senior communications advisor with the HRM’s Public Affairs department.

To start the day, the municipality has helped organize two pancake breakfasts, one at City Hall in Halifax and the other at Dartmouth’s Alderney Landing. Following the breakfasts, Chase says there a number of activities spread out through the morning and afternoon. These include concerts at the Public Gardens and Sullivan’s Pond, opening ceremonies on Citadel Hill and a beer garden. There are also a few events for children, such as the family fun fest on the Halifax Common.

The day is scheduled to end with a concert at Alderney Landing and fireworks on the waterfront.

However, Chase notes residents who aren’t in the downtown area can still enjoy and celebrate Canada Day.

“These are just the official events the municipality plans and organizes, but there are a lot of events taking place in the other communities that people can check out,” she says.

Sackville is celebrating its annual Patriot Days festival and has organized a number Canada Day activities, starting with its annual Canada Day parade. According to the 2015 Parade Marshal Paul Russell, the parade will not only have community groups and floats, but will feature an appearance from Atlantic Cirque.

“There’s a stilt walker and a juggler, so the juggler is going to toss things up to the stilt walker and he’s going to toss them back down,” he says. “It’s going to be pretty cool.”

Following the parade there will be a flag raising ceremony, BBQ and cake cutting. There will also be a Teddy Bear Picnic at Kinsmen Park and a sand castle contest at Kinsmen Beach, along with a few other events.

“There are a lot of activities for kids [such as] bouncy castles and sucker pulls,” says Russell.

Bedford, which is celebrating Canada Day as part of the Bedford Days Festival, has organized a number of different activities in DeWolf Park.

“It’s important to have a variety of events throughout the day, so that families can celebrate Canada Day in their community,” says Leanne Strathdee, the 2015 Bedford Days Chair, who notes the days’ festivities start with a pancake breakfast.

Following the breakfast, residents will have a chance to partake in a number of family and children’s events, such as bouncy castles and a teddy bear picnic.

“Bring your teddy bear and enjoy free hot dogs and kids entertainment, including face painting, Milo T. Clown and of course the Teddy Bear Parade through DeWolf Park,” says Strathdee.

To end the day, Bedford is hosting a concert, performance from Atlantic Cirque and a fireworks display in the park.

While there a number of events happening throughout the day in different communities, Chase saysthey all of one goal in mind: to bring residents together in celebration.

“It’s important to provide opportunities for us to come together and to celebrate being Canadian,” she says.

To find out more about these and other Canada Day activities visit www.halifax.ca/events.