Get your hand-held flags at the ready and prepare to be entertained, because come July 1 there will be celebrations kicking off across the North Shore to ring in this year’s Canada Day.
Not sure where to head? The Shipyards will once again be hosting its day-long festivities, with live music, family events, children’s entertainment and food trucks bringing the waterfront area to life from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
On the Main Stage, festival goers can expect to kick back to a stellar line up of local live music. Things commence with the J.P. Fell Pipe Band, the official pipe band of Vancouver’s North Shore who traditionally kick off proceedings with bagpipes and drums.
Following closely behind will be country artist Dave Hartney, R&B funk trio The Organizers, Iranian artist Amir Road, roaring '20s-themed five-piece band Barnstormer Band and, to close, dance group Showstoppers Vancouver.
There’s an equal abundance of entertainment off the stage, with The Shipyards opening its beloved annual beer garden on Cates Deck, community exhibits set to line the waterfront, the Pipe Shop’s children’s play area offering fun for the kids, and food trucks waiting on standby to serve hungry guests.
“It’s a really relaxed atmosphere, it’s all about celebration,” said Nick Bellamy of Rotary Club of Lions Gate North Vancouver. “It’s essentially just a place where people can chill out and have fun on a sunny afternoon.”
For more than 30 years, the Rotary Club of Lions Gate North Vancouver has hosted North Vancouver’s Canada Day celebrations and, with the club’s main driving force being the supporting of youth and building of community, there is much in the way of championing locals this year.
“On Burrard Dock we will have a youth pop up, where young artists can come over and paint and display their pieces. Young, local musicians will entertain the community, and there will be local soccer and basketball teams hosting activities,” he said.
Bellamy said the event serves as an opportunity for the community to “showcase itself,” to proffer its talents and receive support from neighbours.
“Often people that live in their communities aren’t aware of what’s going on around them, and the nice thing about an event like this is we can showcase some of the really cool things that are going on, and bring the community together,” he said.
Mina Kerr-Lazenby is the North Shore News’ Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
