Today’s festivities are not taking place on Parliament Hill, however, as the historic seat of Canada’s government is in the midst of a lengthy restoration project. Instead, they are held near the Canadian War Museum at LeBreton Flats, just west of downtown. “We immigrated to Canada four years ago, but we’ve been in almost two and a half years,” said Peter Doe, sitting with his family Friday afternoon on the festival grounds. “[It’s] on the first day i enjoy canada day. I’m so excited [be] out and share the moment with the world.” The party is scheduled to last until late at night, with a slate of musical performances starting at 8 p.m. and fireworks scheduled for 10 p.m. Here’s a look at some of today’s scenes from the nation’s capital. A person dressed as Captain Canada checks his shield before going through a security checkpoint as they arrive for the Canada Day celebration at LeBreton Flats on Friday. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press) Peter Do, in red shirt, sits with his family at LeBreton Flats. They immigrated from Vietnam to Canada four years ago and Do says they are extremely happy to be part of the Canada Day celebrations. (Rachelle Elsiufi/CBC) Drone footage captures the magnitude of the festivities at LeBreton Flats on Friday afternoon. (Patrick Morrell/CBC) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau are joined by their children Hadrien, Xavier and Ella-Grace as they arrive at Friday’s celebrations. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Bhangra dancer Gurdeep Pandher was part of a large lineup of artists to take the stage at LeBreton Flats. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Governor General Mary Simon, centre, participates in an Indigenous reflection ceremony near the banks of the Ottawa River. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) People take part in a drum circle at the New Edinburgh Fieldhouse on Canada Day, part of an event to draw attention to the life and historical significance of largely forgotten Algonquin Grand Chief Constant Pinesi. (Dan Taekema/CBC) A child waves the Canadian flag during Friday’s festivities. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press) A rider and horse perform a jump at the annual RCMP Musical Ride on Canada Day. (Catherine Morasse/Radio-Canada) Elsewhere in Ottawa, a man draped in dozens of Canadian flags walks down Sparks Street. (Catherine Morasse/Radio-Canada) A crowd of people, many protesting pandemic health orders and other restrictions, gather near Parliament Hill. In normal years, Parliament Hill hosts the official celebrations, but a large part of the site is under construction. (Frédéric Pepin/Radio-Canada)
