Juno and Grammy-award-winning singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, Quebec singer Marie-Mai, country star Shane Yellowbird and Acadian performer and actress Marie-Jo Therio will be headlining this year’s Canada Day festivities in the nation’s capital.
The National Capital Commission announced the entertainment lineup — among other details — on Thursday.
“I love the sight of hundreds of thousands of Canadians sharing in the Canada Day experience,” said NCC CEO Marie Lemay. “They’re all waving flags, and all singing the anthem together. It’s a powerful moment. It’s a day to celebrate our history and our culture.”
An estimated 350,000 people — including 70,000 on Parliament Hill alone — will attend this year’s festivities.
This year’s Canada Day noon show will highlight Canada’s hosting of the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and visitors will have an opportunity to meet some Olympic and Paralympic athletes, as well as Vancouver 2010 mascots.
Activities take place at three official sites: Parliament Hill and Major’s Hill Park in Ottawa, and Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau.
While the program at Parliament Hill includes a traditional flag-raising ceremony, the Changing of the Guard ceremony, and the world-famous RCMP Musical Ride performances, the evening show always draws a crowd, and this year, artists from all over Canada, including 2009 Juno Award winner Chic Gamine, Cassiopée and K’Naan will be featured.
Races of 5K, 3K and 1K distances start off the day at Jacques-Cartier Park, and visitors will be able to check out a Canadian Forces CF–18 Hornet and the aerial acrobatics shows of the ski and snowboard athletes, the Flying Canucks.
Visitors to Major’s Hill Park will also have the opportunity to stroll the Avenue of the 2009 Cultural Capitals of Canada, while the Ottawa Jazz Festival presents free programming at Confederation Park.
This year, Canada Day will be greener in the capital, said Lemay.
For the first time, the NCC will be measuring the carbon footprint of its operations on Canada Day.
