'Respect and Honour' theme for Saskatoon Canada Day celebrations
Canada Day will look a little different in Saskatoon as things move downtown.
“Transit is going to be running a shuttle from three or four different shopping centres to help people get downtown,” director of Canada Day Saskatoon, Shad Ali told CTV News. “It’s a holiday so city parking spots are free.”
Ali noted that this year’s theme will be a little different from previous years.
“The theme this year is a respectful honouring of our nation. We’ve chosen that because we really believe it is one of the things that needs to be done,” he explained.
“There are certainly some things that we are not so proud of, and of course we need to recognize and acknowledge some history.”
Ali explained that on the official website they’ve added some important facts about residential schools and Indigenous issues so people can learn more about it.
“We also do want to pay honour to the fact that this nation is still strong. It is still free. It is something we want to stand on guard for,” he said.
“We want to celebrate what it is today but also the kind of Canada we want to design and develop in the future.”
CANADA DAY PERFORMANCES
Canada Day celebrations began at noon and those in and around the Saskatoon area can join in at one of the following venues:
River Landing Amphitheatre Stage (414 Spadina Crescent E)
Starting at noon various groups will be performing, including the Chinese Dance School of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Scottish Country Dancers, Qu’appelle Valley Dancers, Afghanistan Women’s Choir, Mudra School of Performing Arts, Nrityati Performing Arts, River City School of Irish Dance, African drumming and Indigenous dance, drum and song presentations, Brazilian dance, elder blessing, children’s singer Sylvia Chave, Super Ron the magician, indigenous storytelling and Saskatoon singer/songwriter Michele Dubois.
Nasser Plaza (2 Spadina Cresent E)
Family fun will be held all day at the Nasser plaza, which will include:
- Bannock tasting
- 11-2 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. face painting
- 12-3 p.m. Balloon Funn by Warren
- 2:20-2:30 Super Ron Magician
- 2:50-3 p.m. Saskatoon Highland Dance Association
There will also be various local venders selling food, drink and other goods at the traffic bride, on Spadina Crescent E and Friendship Park.
FIREWORKS
The fireworks show will begin at 10:30 p.m. from the Broadway Bridge. Some of the best viewing spots include:
- Traffic bridge
- River Landing
- Rotary Park
- Downtown hotels and parks
July 1st marks 155 years since the British North American Act was signed in 1867.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.