July 1 marks Canada’s 153 birthday. We’re looking pretty good for our age! Like so many events this year, though, COVID-19 has put a bit of a damper on celebrations. Bummer, eh?
But we Canadians are resourceful and will not be stopped from celebrating the best country in the world (in our humble opinion). Looking for some truly Canadian ways to commemorate the day? Here are a few options:
Get outside. Canada is beautiful. Whether you’re here in the BC Rocky Mountains or not, you’re sure to find boundless beauty nearby. Why not spend your Canada Day taking part in some truly Canadian outdoor pursuits like canoeing, climbing a mountain, strolling along a nature trail, or relaxing at your favourite camping spot? Or get together with your family for a Canada Day road hockey tournament.
Crank some tunes. When it comes to Canadian artists, there’s something for everyone. Consider putting together an iconic all-Canadian playlist with your favourites. Some options to choose from include: the Arkells, JulyTalk, Said the Whale, Tragically Hip, Rush, Drake, Shawn Mendes, Rufus Wainwright, Broken Social Scene, The Weekend, Arcade Fire, Blue Rodeo, Shania Twain, Brian Adams, Justin Bieber, Sam Roberts, Michael Buble, JJ Shipley, Shred Kelly, Dean Brody, and more. Whew! So much Canuck talent.
Treat yourself. Our country has been the birth place of some truly amazing food. Some you can find at your local supermarket, others you may find at a local restaurant – or you can try your hand at creating them yourself at home. Some Canadian treats to indulge in include:
- Poutine
- Nanaimo Bars / Butter Tarts / Beaver Tails
- Bannock / Fry Bread
- Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich / Montreal Bagel
- Anything with maple syrup
- Smarties / Crispy Crunch / Ketchup chips / Hawkins Cheezies
- Smoked salmon/ Atlantic or Pacific salmon/ Atlantic Lobster / Alberta beef
- Blueberries / Saskatoon berries / Okanagan fruit
- And of course, you’ll want to wash all that down with some Canada Dry, or maybe a nice BC wine, a Caesar, some Canadian whisky, or an ice cold beer.
Also this Canada Day, Canadian Heritage will host a virtual Canada Day celebration which will include a variety of shows and interactive activities available on their social media sites, as well as on CBC and Radio-Canada. They also have a downloadable celebration kit available to help you participate.
Canada Day is also a great day to show your College of the Rockies pride. Rock your College gear while you celebrate, share your photos, and tag us on social. We’ll share some of our favourites. However you choose to recognize Canada’s big day this year, be safe, have fun, and give’er.