Canada Day 2022: celebrations begin as thousands are expected to gather in Ottawa – National

Celebrations begin for Canada Day in the nation’s capital after two years of Canadians celebrating the country’s birthday at home, or virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tensions remain high amid a heavy police presence as thousands of people begin to gather on the streets of downtown Ottawa where residents continue to struggle with what police have acknowledged as ‘trauma persistent » of the convoy blockade earlier this year.

In normal years, Canada Day festivities draw thousands to the lawns and streets around Parliament Hill for concerts, fireworks and parties. COVID-19 has forced virtual celebrations in 2020 and 2021. This year the celebration is back live and in person after two years of confinement, but it will not take place in the familiar surroundings of the parliamentary precincts. .

Instead, the official celebrations will take place on LeBreton Flats, the festival ground about a 20-minute walk west of Parliament Hill, as the Parliamentary Precinct collapses.

The daytime ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. EST on Friday and lasts until 1 p.m., while the evening show begins at 8 p.m. and lasts until 10 p.m., when the fireworks begin.

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Daytime show performers will include Chantal Kreviazuk, Gurdeep Pandher, Lisa LeBlanc, Tenille Townes, Sarahmee, DJ Shub, Kellie Loder, Sebastien Gaskin, Riit and Boogat.

The evening show will feature Charlotte Cardin, Walk Off The Earth, Salebarbes, Ariane Moffat, Sarahmee, Riit, Cindy Bedard, Sebastian Gaskin, Gurdeep Pandher, Johhny Reid, Tenille Arts, Neon Dreams, Samian and William Prince.

There is also an official Canada Day playlist on Spotify and YouTube with music from the performers.

It is not yet clear whether the heavy police presence and the change of location will have an impact on the number of people traveling downtown to participate in the celebrations.

In some community forums such as the Reddit subreddit r/Ottawa, some users have suggested they plan to head out of town and wonder if the police will do enough to prevent another convoy blockade.

More soon…