Canada Day celebrations sweep through Metro Vancouver

Happy Canada Day — from Metro Vancouver to you!

The nation celebrated its 150th birthday on Saturday, and festivities on B.C.'s South Coast ranged from concerts, citizenship ceremonies, a massive national flag display and even a Guinness World Record attempt.

All this, of course, to be followed by fireworks at the end of the day.

• 12 Canada Day events to check out in Metro Vancouver

Here's a few snippets of Canada 150 from around Metro Vancouver and beyond.

Canada Place (Vancouver)

Canada Place was host to the second largest sesquicentennial celebration in the country. On-site events included dozens of concerts, a citizenship ceremony, food vendors, a kids' zone, and countless impromptu renditions of 'O Canada.'

Citizenship ceremonies (New Westminster)

What better day to become a Canadian than Canada Day? Thirty people from 20 different countries took the oath of citizenship in New Westminster on Saturday — and many couldn't keep the smiles off their faces.

"I was sure I was going to cry. I did cry. It's something very important to me. It really matters, It's not just a piece of paper," said Valerian Abel.

Mountaintop sunrise (Mt. Seymour)

Hundreds of hikers were in the North Shore mountains by 3:30 a.m. PT to catch a sunrise from the first peak of Mount Seymour. The fog cleared, the sun came out, and the group sang the national anthem as light washed over the trees.

Premier-designate celebrates (Port Moody, Surrey, Vancouver Island)

John Horgan, premier-designate of B.C., celebrated in Port Moody, Surrey and Sooke. 

"A safe and Happy Canada Day to everyone celebrating with friends and family this weekend," he tweeted.

Canada's flag (Stanley Park)

A massive Canadian flag was on display at Brockton Oval in Stanley Park all day. It's bigger than a football field, weighs around a tonne and took days to create. 

Coast-to-coast drumming (False Creek)

Eight cities from across Canada synchronized a drumming ceremony on Saturday morning, with Vancouverites participating from False Creek. Later on, drummers attempted to break a Guiness World Record for the most amount of drummers from different nations performing together in a circle. Unfortunately they came up short of the record.

Drummers celebrate Canada 150 at Vancouver's False Creek

8 years ago

Duration 0:52

Dozens of drummers joined seven other cities nationwide for a group show, and even attempted to break a Guinness World Record

Salmon festival (Steveston)

The Steveston Salmon Festival kicked off Canada Day with a parade, followed by 1,200 pounds of wild salmon fillets hitting the grill. There was also a bonsai demonstration and tea ceremony at the Japanese cultural show.

Celebrating Canada Day in Steveston Village

8 years ago

Duration 0:35

The event featured fresh salmon, tall ships and even pirates

Firework show (Canada Place) 

Vancouver saved the best for last with a spectacular light show at Canada Place.

Canada Place fireworks

8 years ago

Duration 0:30

Vancouver finished Canada Day with fireworks at Canada Place.