For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared more than two years ago, people are gathering in Ottawa for the official Canada Day celebrations.
Today’s festivities, however, do not take place on Parliament Hill, as the historic seat of the Government of Canada is in the midst of a lengthy rehabilitation project.
Instead, they remain close to the Canadian War Museum in LeBreton Flats, west of downtown.
“We emigrated to Canada four years ago, but we spent almost two and a half years inside,” said Peter Do, sitting with his family on Friday afternoon at the festival grounds.
“[It’s] the first day I am enjoying Canada Day. I’m very excited [be] go out and share the moment with people. “
The party will last until late at night, with a list of musical performances starting at 8pm and fireworks scheduled at 10pm.
Here’s a look at some of today’s scenes from the country’s capital.
A person dressed as Captain Canada checks his coat of arms before going through a security check when he arrives for Canada Day celebrations at LeBreton Flats on Friday. (Justin Tang / The Canadian Press) Peter Do, wearing the red T-shirt, sits with his family on the grounds of LeBreton Flats. They emigrated from Vietnam to Canada four years ago and Do says they are very happy to participate in the face-to-face celebrations of Canada Day. (Rachelle Elsiufi / CBC) Images of the drone capture the size of the celebrations at LeBreton Flats on Friday afternoon. (Patrick Morrell / CBC) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau join their sons Hadrien, Xavier and Ella-Grace when they arrive for Friday’s celebrations. (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press) Bhangra dancer Gurdeep Pandher was part of the long line-up of performers who took to the LeBreton Flats stage. (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press) Governor General Mary Simon, in the center, is taking part in an Indigenous reflection ceremony near the banks of the Ottawa River. (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press) People take part in a drum circle at New Edinburgh Fieldhouse on Canada Day, part of an event to draw attention to the life and historical significance of the great Algonquin chief Constant Pinesi. (Dan Taekema / CBC) A child waves the Canadian flag during Friday holidays. (Justin Tang / The Canadian Press) A rider and a horse make a leap on the RCMP’s annual Canada Day Music Route. (Catherine Morasse / Radio-Canada) Elsewhere in Ottawa, a man dressed in dozens of Canadian flags walks down Sparks Street. (Catherine Morasse / Radio-Canada) A crowd of people, many of whom are protesting the pandemic’s health warrants and other restrictions, gather near Parliament Hill. In normal years, Parliament Hill is home to official celebrations, but much of the site is currently under construction. (Frédéric Pepin / Radio-Canada)