OTTAWA, Ont.—Sidra Treehouse would like to wish all of our families a happy Canada Day.
In 1867, on July 1, three colonies came together and signed the Constitution Act to form a single Dominion called Canada. Wednesday is the 153rd anniversary of the Confederation.
Normally, we would be downtown taking part in Canada Day activities, but Canada Day has moved online this year because of COVID-19. You can still celebrate though—we’ve put together a list of Canada Day ideas to do with your family!
Tasty treats
Poutine
French fries topped with hot gravy and melty, squeaky cheese curds: a classic Canadian snack, which originated in Quebec. If you haven’t already tried poutine, or if you want to have some more of it, Canada Day is a great time to indulge in the tasty treat. You can track down a chip truck or order from a restaurant to get your hands on some poutine.
Beavertails
Beavertails are another iconic Canadian food. Normally, I would eat a beavertail to warm up while skating down the canal, but it’s just as tasty in the summer. You can’t go wrong with fried dough and all their creative toppings—my favourite, however, is a simple Killaloe Sunrise with
cinnamon, sugar and lemon.
O Canada recipes
As part of the virtual celebrations, the government of Canada put together some culinary activities. Organizations like the Canadian Space Agency, the Métis National Council and the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum provided recipes so you can make your own Canada Day feast. Experiment with recipes like bannock, space chili, patriotic popsicles and more!
Get outside
Hike in Gatineau
What better way to celebrate Canada than to enjoy its beautiful nature trails? Gatineau Park has hikes for all levels, ranging from quick and easy 15-minute walks to more challenging four-and half-hour treks. Check out different trail options here!
Go boating
You can rent paddleboats, stand up paddle boards, canoes and kayaks at the Dow’s Lake Marina and paddle along the canal. The Marina is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Canada Day (weather permitting), and rentals are on a first come, first serve basis.
Fun at home
Colour
The government’s Canada Day celebration packs feature a lot of printable colouring pages. For example, the Indigenous Theatre at the National Arts Centre created seven pages to colour that each feature a different Anishinàbemowin (Algonquin) word, so you can learn and have fun!
Scrapbook
The Canadian Museum of History put together a guide to help you make your own scrapbook. A scrapbook is a fun craft that you can also use to document your experiences in Canada. It can be used to collect diary entries, interviews with friends and family, photos, and drawings!
Virtual fireworks
Across Canada at 10 p.m. local time, you can watch Canada Day fireworks using augmented reality on your smart phone or tablet. If you point your device to the sky, a three-minute 3D firework show will begin. Watch Wednesday at 10 p.m. on your phone or tablet here, or watch a fireworks montage anytime on your computer here.
