Ottawa

Canada Day on Parliament Hill: Need to know

Are you wondering what's happening on Parliament Hill for Canada Day? The festivities run from 9 a.m. ET up until the annual fireworks show at 10 p.m. ET. Here's a complete schedule with all road closures.

Downtown roads in Ottawa, Gatineau closed for Parliament Hill celebration

Canada Day road closures in Ottawa

From 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. ET (July 1):

  • St. Patrick and Murray streets from Mackenzie Avenue to Alexandra Bridge.
  • Alexandra Bridge.
  • Rideau Street from Dalhousie Street to Sussex Drive.
  • Nicholas Street from Besserer to Rideau streets.
  • Sussex from Rideau to York streets.
  • Mackenzie from Murray to Wellington streets.
  • Colonel By Drive from Rideau to Daly streets.
  • Wellington Street from Kent Street to Sussex.
  • Eastbound Wellington from Lyon to Kent streets.
  • Elgin Street from Wellington to Laurier streets.
  • Metcalfe, O'Connor and Bank streets from Wellington to Albert streets.
  • Slater and Albert streets from Metcalfe to Elgin streets.
  • Queen Street from Kent to Elgin streets.
  • Mackenzie King Bridge.
  • George Street from Sussex to ByWard Market Square.
  • Lane reduction on Booth Bridge from Wellington to Middle streets.
  • Slidell Street between roundabout and Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway.

From 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. ET:

  • Wellington from Portage Bridge to Kent Street.
  • All streets in area north of Laurier Avenue, east of Bronson Avenue and west of Elgin.
  • Albert from Bronson to Booth.
  • Lorne Street from Primrose to Albert streets.
  • Primrose from Booth to Lorne.
  • Slater from Metcalfe to Bronson.
  • Bronson from Laurier to Sparks Street.
  • Commissioner Street from Albert to Wellington.
  • Colonel By Drive from Daly Avenue to Main Street.
  • Daly from Nicholas Street to Colonel By.

From 7 p.m. to 1 p.m. ET:

  • York and Clarence streets from Sussex Street to Dalhousie Avenue.
  • George from Byward to Dalhousie.
  • Sussex northbound from George to Murray.
  • Byward and William from George to Clarence.
  • Parent Street from Clarence to Murray.

There is a daylong schedule of events on Parliament Hill for Canada Day on Monday.

The country's 146th birthday celebration runs from 9 a.m. ET all the way up to the fireworks show at 10 p.m. ET.

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SCHEDULE

9 a.m. | Changing of the Guard (East Lawn).

9:35 a.m. | Flag-raising ceremony (East Lawn) featuring Trent Severn trio singing the national anthem.

10 a.m. | Carillon concert by Dominion Carilloneur, Dr. Andrea McCrady.

12 p.m. | Canada Day noon show hosted by Hélène Campbell (Ottawa) and Measha Brueggergosman (N.B.).

Featuring musical performances broadcast live on CBC, CBC.ca, CBC News Network, Radio-Canada, Radio-Canada.ca and RDI:

  • Carly Rae Jepsen (B.C.).
  • Marie-Mai (Que.).
  • Metric (Ont.).
  • Terri Clark (Alta.).
  • Karim Ouellet (Que.).
  • Jennifer Gillis (B.C.).
  • Measha Brueggergosman (N.B.).
  • Special performance by Cmdr. Chris Hadfield (Ont.).

2 p.m. | Rhythms in Colour, performances by:

  • Remesha Drums, a Burundi percussion ensemble.
  • Afrika Woza, gumboot percussive music and dance of West Africa.
  • Jaan Punjab Di, Ottawa’s Bhangra Team.
  • First Nations singers and dancers.
  • Wings of Wind, whimsical characters on stilts.

7:30 p.m. | Canada Day evening show hosted by Anne-Marie Withenshaw (Que.).

Featuring musical performances broadcasted live on CBC Radio 2, CBC.ca and Radio Canada.ca:

  • Metric (Ont.).
  • Carly Rae Jepsen (B.C.).
  • Sylvain Cossette (Que.).
  • Terri Clark (Alta.).
  • Radio Radio (N.S.).
  • Lucie Idlout (Nunavut).
  • Karim Ouellet (Que.).
  • DJ Abeille (Que.).
  • Special performance by Cmdr. Chris Hadfield and Ed Robertson.

A one-hour edition of the evening show can be seen on CBC and Radio-Canada.

10 p.m. | Canada Day Fireworks show, including 1,177 fireworks items, 1,133 aerial shells  — 74 of the largest shells allowed in Canada — and 44 multi-shot items, for a total of 2,354 projectiles.

The best views of the fireworks are from Jacques-Cartier Park and the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, as well as Major’s Hill Park in Ottawa, plus Victoria Island and along the Ottawa River.

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