Canada Day festivities return to the Old Port of Montreal on July 1 with a free day of live music, family activities and commemorative ceremonies. The day starts at 11:30 a.m. with the second edition of “Canada on the Move,” welcoming participants to walk 1.3 kilometres from Place d’Armes to the Grand Quay of the Port of Montreal to kick off celebrations. Following the walk, a series of commemorative ceremonies will take place, including a 21-gun salute by the Canadian Armed Forces, a swearing-in ceremony for new citizens, the singing of the Canadian anthem and the raising of the country’s flag. From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., families can take part in a variety of activities, including soccer, hockey and activities inspired by Canada’s presence in space. Activities aim to celebrate Canadian pride According to event organizer Stéphane Guertin, the programming is designed to celebrate Canadian pride. “Hockey is our national sport. Canada is hosting the World Cup games for soccer, and we’re showcasing aerospace, so we want to teach people what we do, what we’re proud of, what we accomplish and maybe they can be part of that dream,” he told CTV News. Live music will run from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with performances by Anyma Ora, King Melrose, William Cloutier and Antonin Prinz. “We really want this event to show we’re proud to be Canadian and proud to be part of this country, and that’s what people will see all day with the artists, activities; it’s proudly Canadian,” Guertin said. Food trucks will be on site throughout the day, along with both indoor and outdoor activities. ‘Rain or shine’ Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a heat warning on Monday for southern Quebec, including the Montreal area. Daytime highs are expected to be between 30 and 33 degrees Celsius from Wednesday to Saturday, with humidex values between 40 and 44. Nighttime lows are estimated to be between 20 and 23 degrees Celsius. Despite the forecast, Guertin says activities will take place rain or shine. He advises participants to bring water to the event.
