The national daytime ceremony at Ottawa’s LeBreton Flats Park has officially begun, with thousands of Canadians heading to the nation’s capital to celebrate Canada Day, marking 159 years of Confederation.
Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke at the ceremony about how “Canada’s best days are yet to come” in his annual address.
“We’re building in a spirit of cooperative federalism to create one Canadian economy, to build Canada strong from new homes, community infrastructure, nation-building defense, transport and energy projects in every province, in every territory,” he said. “And we’re building with Canadian workers, Canadian steel, Canadian know-how, Canadian values.
“This work is born from the conviction that Canada is worth fighting for. To all Canadians that Canada’s best days are yet to come. The force to cross generations in their being renewed by this generation. Courage, connections, conviction, Canada.”
Carney also commented on Canada’s entry in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, which was announced Wednesday morning.
The ceremony is set to include performances with from Alessia Cara, Adrian Sutherland, TOBi and Éléonore Lagacé, among others.
Get breaking National news
The celebration will also be broadcast live on giant screens at Parliament Hill and in front of the Supreme Court of Canada, according to a statement from the Department of Canadian Heritage.
The closing fireworks show is also set for 10 p.m.
In a video uploaded to X, Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed Canadians ahead of the day’s festivities.
“Today, we celebrate an incredible country that spans three oceans, six time zones and ten million square kilometers of breathtaking landscapes,” he said. “A nation of monumental scale and diversity, built and bound by a great conviction: that we are strongest when we’re united.
“There will always be forces that want to divide us, but they forget a founding insight of our country: that unity is not conformity. That our differences are strengths to be nurtured, not risks to be managed. That our values serve as our unshakeable foundation that no one can take away.”
Carney is also set to speak at the event in LeBreton Flats Parks then travel to Alberta to deliver remarks in the evening.
According to the Ottawa event’s press release, audiences can expect “a deeply Canadian experience, punctuated by musical performances, dance numbers, inspiring personal accounts and special guest appearances.”
The celebrations will also be marked by “an Order of Canada investiture ceremony highlighting the exceptional contributions of Canadians, the playing of the national anthem, and a spectacular flyover by the Snowbirds.”
In addition, Jeremy Hansen, the first Canadian to go around the moon on the Artemis II mission, alongside Olympic and Paralympic athletes who represented Canada at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be present.
I used to go to Canada a lot, but now boycotting Canada because of Trudeau and Carney.
@Anoymous. Canadians are not humble. They are arrogant folks who seem to think they are so virtuous to everyone else. Very smug, just like Carney. Look how Canadians bad mouth the USA….
@Andrea Wolf <—-MAGA traitor! You want us to wear Canadian pattern jump suit and scream, US! US! US! We love Canada in our Canadian humble way.
The 4th of July Celebration in Washington DC is far superior to Canada Day Celebrations in Ottawa. Just seems Canada loves to be mediocre.
MAGA traitors don’t like this day. Elbow up!
Carney will have an Elbows Up rally.
Wish I were there