​Vaughan hosts once-in-a-lifetime celebration with headline performer Coleman Hell

You’re invited to the biggest bash this city has ever seen. July 1 marks Canada’s 150th anniversary and the City of Vaughan is celebrating in style. This year’s event will be larger and more lively than ever before — headline performer and Juno Award nominee for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Pop Album of the Year Coleman Hell will make sure of that.

The event will be held at Boyd Conservation Area, 8739 Islington Ave., to accommodate more people, activities and fun. From noon to 10 p.m., residents and visitors can enjoy live performances, midway rides and inflatables, arts and crafts, and much more. Admission, activities and entertainment are free for the whole family. Canada Day is presented by TD and event sponsors CN and Tim Hortons.

The entertainment will kick off with community performances featuring Dominic Mancuso, Juno Award winner for World Music Album of the Year, and emcee Julia Suppa from Rogers Television. Maura Grierson from Virgin Radio will host the evening festivities starting with an official welcome from Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council at 5:15 p.m., followed by the Samba Squad and opening acts Eric Ethridge and Michelle Treacy. Coleman Hell will take the stage at 8:45 p.m. 

In recognition of this special year, a legacy tree will be planted at the park prior to the event. Guests will have a chance to celebrate and share their civic pride at the Canada 150 activity pavilion where there will be button-making, a collective art mural, potted-plant giveaways and craft supplies to create a dream weaver project. The historic night will close out with a highly anticipated laser show beginning at 9:45 p.m.

Limited parking is available at the site so partygoers are encouraged to use the bike valet onsite and receive a $5 food voucher (while quantities last) or take a free shuttle bus to the location. Buses will run between 11:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. and will pick up attendees at the following locations:

• Vaughan City Hall, 2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.
• Al Palladini Community Centre, 9201 Islington Ave.
• Woodbridge Pool and Memorial Arena, 5020 Highway 7
• Vellore Village Community Centre, 1 Villa Royale Ave.
• North Thornhill Community Centre, 300 Pleasant Ridge Ave.
• Garnet A. Williams Community Centre, 501 Clark Ave. W.

For more information about the Canada Day event, please visit vaughan.ca/CanadaDay.

QUOTE

"From coast to coast, Canadians will unite on this special day to celebrate all that is wonderful about our great nation. Canada is built upon a rich past that uniquely defines us, and reaffirms our common identity as a country — strong, proud and free. Canada Day will bring citizens together here in Vaughan and nationwide to mark the sesquicentennial in a profound demonstration of our shared values of peace, hope and generosity. The Canadian spirit is the driving force behind the Canadian dream, which promises a tomorrow better than today and a future filled with opportunity. Happy 150th birthday to the best country in the world — we are truly blessed to call Canada our home.”
-Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua

CANADA DAY CLOSURES

• Vaughan City Hall, Joint Operations Centre and Vaughan Animal Services will be closed on Monday, July 3.
• Waste collection will not be affected and will continue as regularly scheduled.
• Community centres will be closed on Saturday, July 1 with the exception of Thornhill Outdoor Pool, which will be open. Check vaughan.ca/swim for the swim schedule.
• Community centres will be open on Monday, July 3 for recreational drop-in services. Registered programs and swim lessons will not be running.
• Summer camps begin Tuesday, July 4.
• Vaughan Public Libraries will be closed on Saturday, July 1.
• For more information about holiday closures, please call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281.

QUICK FACTS

• The City of Vaughan received $6,500 from the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Celebrate Canada program to help fund the Canada Day event.
• Vaughan Celebrates Canada Day 2015 was recognized as part of the 2016 Top 100 Festivals and Events In Ontario.
• The City of Vaughan has a fireworks by-law that allows family fireworks on Victoria Day and Canada Day only. For displays on other days, residents must apply for a permit.

LEARN MORE

• Canada Day event webpage
• Vaughan’s Canada 150 webpage