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Canada Day events planned

Canada Day activities can be enjoyed in a number of ways and places.
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Canada Day activities can be enjoyed in a number of ways and places.

The multicultural personality of Canada, the foundation of inclusion and culture-blending, is what leads the celebrations at the most popular of the local events for Canada's birthday. Canada Day In The Park happens at Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park with music and dancing at the Kiwanis Bandshell, informational booths and a broad array of international food vendors around the grassy grounds, plenty of wild free-form joy at the playground and Rotaract Waterspray Park, plus endless activities and interests at Exploration Place and the Little Prince railroad rides.

It finishes with a fireworks display at

11 p.m. - all for families, all for free.

North of the city about 30 minutes, you'll find a more rustic form of national celebration. Historic Huble Homestead hosts Dominion Day each July 1.

Take a trip to the past and celebrate Canada's birthday the old-fashioned way at the city's living museum with pioneer farmhouse, barns, general store, post office blacksmith shop, fish drying camp and much more.

Enjoy heritage demonstrations and music throughout the day, and take part in the Dominion Day festivities by joining in pioneer games and races, eating contests, a special Canadian treasure hunt, and crafts.

Join the parade across the site and afterwards enjoy a free piece of birthday cake, then kick back and relax with a hot meal from the barbecue.

Admission by donation (recommended $10 for this event).

For a gold rush dose of pioneering fun, head down to Barkerville on July 1. It's actually the first place to ever celebrate Dominion Day, and they did it before B.C. was part of the national confederation.

"Just past midnight on July 1, 1868, the Dominion of Canada's first anniversary, Barkerville citizens launched their own version of a 21 gun salute," explained Barkerville curatorial staff. "Cannons were in short supply, so black powder charges were detonated between stacked anvils, providing a loud and raucous start to Canada's inaugural birthday party. A full slate of activities followed throughout the day and long into the evening, capped off with a fireworks display.

"In 2019, we celebrate much the same way, with a tug of war, funny face contest, greasy pole climb, egg toss, races and lots more. Scotiabank sponsors a giant cake, and the House Hotel hosts an evening of entertainment, dancing and refreshments."

An even older institution in the area also has a Canada Day celebration.

Founded in 1806 by Simon Fraser, the national historic site of Fort St. James is on the brow of a view of Stuart Lake and wrapped in the ancient arms of Indigenous cultures that still operate in the modern context today.

"Travel back to 1896 when wealth was measured in fur pelts and salmon, the natural bounty bartered by the Carrier First Nations and European fur traders at Fort St. James," said Parks Canada staff.

"Tour Canada's largest collection of wooden buildings faithfully restored to the fur trade era. Spend the night in the historic Murray house warmed by a wood stove and memories of the family who lived here more than a century ago."

The July 1 celebrations start with an

8 a.m. pancake breakfast then on through a slate of activities like a parade, live entertainment, kids crafts, magic show, hoola hoop demonstration, and more.