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In general us Canadians are fairly subdued folks when it comes to our nationality and national pride. Never too in your face about our citizenship.
You cross the border into the US, you definitely know you’re in another country. American flags are everywhere: houses, businesses, fences. National pride is very evident.
Canadians? Not so much.
Except on Canada Day. And when we’re cheering on the Canadian hockey team during the Olympics. And maybe when we’re hosting the Winter Olympics too. Canadians are most definitely proud of their country. All you have to do is take a look around on Canada day or when an important game is on.
I haven’t seen so much display of red and white pride as on Tuesday in a long while. It was refreshing to see everyone coming out and celebrating this fantastic country.
I haven’t celebrated Canada Day in Canada for years. Even before I moved to Budapest, I wasn’t one to join in the festivities. Usually it’s too hot and too many people. It wasn’t until recently that Vancouver even had fireworks and a big Canada Day celebration event. Even then, it is nothing like the massive celebration on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, or even the celebrations in Victoria, the capital of our province.
To take advantage of the fantastic sunny weather, and wanting to explore Vancouver more, I dragged my family out for a couple hours of Canadian filled fun at Canada Place.
Can you see the dots of people?
We were there early and already there were lots of people decked out in red and while. A main stage greeted you with local musicians and entertainment acts. This stage really reminded me of the Olympics – it looked so similar!
A local artist – she sounded pretty good.
Inside Canada place there were lots of activities mostly geared towards kids. The Vancouver Aquarium was on hand with interactive displays of local animals.
The Army, Navy and Air Force had a huge hanger full of their tanks, trucks and planes. There were plenty of people lining up for tours and photo ops. I once worked on a Naval base (as a civilian), so the novelty of these things have kind of worn off.
We spotted one of the free pianos hanging out around Vancouver and listened as someone played an impromptu concert for the public.
At noon, the 9 o’clock gun sounded. There is a cannon located in Stanley Park that sounds every evening at 9:00pm (hence its name). I didn’t know it was going to go off on Canada day so when it first went off, I was rather startled. For some reason, I’ve never been in the neighbourhood (and outside), at 9:00pm and have never heard it sound off before.
The coolest thing was probably walking by the Citizenship Ceremony. Can you imagine becoming a Canadian citizen on Canada Day? That would be the ultimate way of doing it.
Despite the claim of a lot of things to see and do, we were done walking through the whole thing in an hour or so. Most of the activities were geared towards children and even then, there wasn’t too much of it. Just a lot of people in a cramped space which was a bit of a letdown. But at least now I know I’m not missing out on huge Canadian celebrations when I’m out of the country.
Love this mural on the side of Canada Place. Explore Canada indeed!
How do you celebrate national holidays in your country? Do you find these sorts of celebrations are more of a let down than anything? Do you deck yourself out in your country’s colours?
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It is interesting to learn more about Canada Day and to think about how different countries celebrate (or don’t) their nationality. Some of the Canadians I know are from French-speaking Canada and they seem to think of themselves as apart from English speaking Canada.
Yup definitely! I didn’t get into it in this post, but Quebec always seems to want to separated from Canada. It definitely has a completely different vibe and feel to the province. Whenever I go it is so strange to be using Canadian dollars and be in such a different culture.
Looks like a gorgeous Canada Day! I’m actually in Vancouver right now, but the weather isn’t nearly as nice!
It was super gorgeous on Canada Day (and the few days after). It’s gorgeous now too. Just over the weekend when it was crap.
We just had Independence Day here in the US, and I didn’t really feel like there was too much national pride, at least not during the day.. or that I didn’t know where to go. But I know each city invests a lot to put on the evening fireworks show. And you can also hear fireworks going off in residential areas, even though it’s illegal for people to do their own. But I stopped going to celebrations a long time ago too, because I don’t like crowds and I’m lazy lol.
Haha, I totally know that feeling! Usually I’m way too lazy to go out and check out the celebrations. I skipped the fireworks because I’m a grandma and need to be in bed early, I don’t like crowds and I had to get up for work early. Yay party 🙂
Canada day seems like fun! Good informative post! Would like to visit one day.
Sounds fun for a day out, but as you said, it’s probably not worth making a trip for it. Even though the citizenship ceremony sounds great, and I’m sure Vancouver is always a wonderful city, with or without Canada day!
Huge day for Canada! We’ve been out watching Singapore gear up for its National Day (August) this weekend, too. Amazing thinking of how much prep goes into these things
That must be really interesting to see! I wonder how their National Day is celebrated.
Fireworks, military displays (flyovers, naval demonstrations, parachuters, etc), and cultural performances. And flags. Lots of flags. 🙂
I have seen some of the celebrations they have in London over Canada day. I hope to visit Canada someday as it seem really beautiful. #sundaytraveler
Every time I see the Canadian flag, I have to sing O Canada. Everyone knows it’s the best national anthem. It’s interesting how subdued the Canadians are about their national pride…and I’m a little happy to see that they *do* get a little worked up over something every now and then 😀 Maybe this is why everyone loves the Canadians. That, and Canada has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.
Yup, people love their hockey and their Olympics (usually with more hockey). It’s quite fun when everyone is patriotic.
We had a Canada Day celebration here in Port Credit, Ontario – called “Paint the Town Red” where there was a parade, music, stuff for the kids, and a fireworks show at night. Unfortunately I had to work on Canada Day (yes on the holiday! when you work in TV, someone’s gotta keep things going on holidays LOL) so I didn’t get to go to any celebrations! Happy belated Canada Day 🙂
Aww boo to working on the holiday! But working in TV does sound intriguing!
I love the impromptu concert.. shows how enthused people get! Looks like lots of fun!
I can tell you for a fact that there were not as many people around Canada Place at 530am on Canada Day. 🙂 Glad you were out and about on a beautiful day!
Only crazy people wake up before dawn on a public holiday 😛
I woke up by the early light of dawn; so during dawn, not before dawn. Does that work? I think so. 😛
Still crazy 😛
Seems like a great day! I think that Aussies are much more like Canadians. I do love me some apparel though, that much I admit too.
Ah yes! That’ll explain why there are so many Aussie’s here and so many Canadians there 😉
Canada Day seems like a very fun festivity, Adelina. After living abroad you probably appreciate it even more. Like always, very beautiful pictures.
Thanks Anda! Yes, it was definitely interesting to experience Canada Day on home turf again.
Happy Canada Day x lovely reading about your National Day x
I love that mural! I find that the national pride is also quite subdued in Germany (at least in comparison to America!). The flag only comes out when soccer fever hits :).
Thanks Chamisa! It’s one of my favourite murals in the city as well. Ah yes, sports fans are definitely very patriotic 🙂 I bet even more so in Germany after yesterday’s game!
The US definitely makes a bigger deal about patriotism than most other places, though I have to say that the national pride in Costa Rica was and still is at an all time high because of how far they made it in the World Cup. I guess Canadians sort of feel the same way about hockey 🙂 Nice finding you on Sunday Traveler!
You’re right! When I was living in Europe, everyone was football crazy during the Euro football championship. Fans were definitely proud of their home country teams. Must be a football thing 🙂
I’m learning a lot about Canada from your blog. I love how different Canadians are from their noisy neighbors in the south.
Thanks Rachel! In many ways we’re pretty similar. I usually only see the similarities, not the differences. The only thing I definitely notice is the patriotism.
I was in Canada for Canada Day several summers ago and the front page of the local newspaper read: “Happy Birthd-Eh!” Loved the self-deprecation! I am American, so the 4th of July is about grilling out and having fun on a summer afternoon with friends. Sad I missed it this year!
Haha, it’s too good of a pun! Definitely happens year after year. I think a lot of people celebrate Canada Day similarly: grilling, drinks, family & friends and fireworks.