There’s NOT going to be any party bigger than this on July 1st.
And we know Canada Day celebration like no other! Twenty York Street or 20 York Street (if you want to check it out in Google Earth) is actually located right in the heart of the Byward Market, exactly behind the flagship Hudsons Bay store on Rideau Street and steps away from the Parliament Hill.
For 11 years in a row, we’ve hosted the biggest rooftop parties and we’ve been front and centre to what probably was one of the most crowded and biggest Canada Day Celebration ever – when Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge came to visit Ottawa and Canada for the very first time! Were you here for that? It was such an exciting time, not just for the capital but for the entire nation!
So who better to write the ULTIMATE CANADA DAY GUIDE and CANADA DAY 2015 STYLE GUIDE for YOU than us, right here in the capital!
CANADA DAY 2015: CELEBRATE CANADA’S 148TH BIRTHDAY IN OTTAWA – GATINEAU
Canada Day festivities is truly one big celebration designed for the entire family. You’re guaranteed to find something you will enjoy no matter how old you are as there’s hundreds of activities, mostly free, are available all over the city! For activities in Major Hills Park, check here. For festivities in Jacques-Cartier Park, visit here and for everywhere else in the National Capital Region (Ottawa – Gatineau area), click here.
If being one with nature is more your way of celebrating, it’s FREE admission in all national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas managed by Parks Canada. Check out all the special events listing here and here.
No matter how you choose to celebrate Canada Day 2015, we’ve got a style guide for you! Nothing says HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA, BONNE FETE CANADA like getting dressed in our nation’s colours and wearing the Canadian pride on our sleeves – literally!
CANADA DAY 2015 STYLE GUIDE: CELEBRATING CANADA 148TH BIRTHDAY WITH HUDSON’S BAY
Oh yes, there will be Canada Day parties from coast to coast but the biggest parade of white, red and the maple leaf will be right here at the Nation’s Capital and we just CANNOT wait to celebrate our great country’s 148th Birthday! Every year, there is a massive party right at the Parliament Hill that draws thousands of Canadians proudly dressed in red and white. The Canada Day festivities on the Hill run from morning to night—ceremonial events, shows, activities, concerts, food, fireworks and more!
What better way to get in the spirit of Canadiana? Here’s the Twenty York Street team showcasing HUDSON’S BAY HEARTS CANADA DAY apparel and accessories! Our PR-In-Charge Ms, Taylor Boileau (who’s also taking this opportunity to remind you be sun smart with SPF protection creams and spray from Shoppers Drug Mart), Lydia Talajic and Andrew Mulin rocking the Hudson’s Bay Canada Day 2015 Limited Edition apparel along with the #IHeartCanada Tote, Canadian Flag baseball cap and #Canada Water bottle as it gets really hot in downtown Ottawa during the day. Photographed right here at the epicentre of Canadian politics and government, the @20YS Team takes you closer to the stage as French and English artists such as Keizia, Shad, Caracol, David Myles, Marc Dupré, Andee and Magic! performing for the biggest concert at Canada Day are doing their dress rehearsals on stage!
Canada 15 graphic t-shirts are available for men and women. There are sleeved and sleeveless option for women and you can choose from red, white or the #IHeartCanada t-shirts are emblazoned with an adorable HEART sign made out of the signature HBC Stripes. Also check out Hudson’s Bay Olympic Collection – now 30% off in honour of Canada Day!
GET YOUR RED, WHITE AND MAPLE LEAF AT HUDSONS BAY
This year, Hudson’s Bay is proud to be an official sponsor of Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa and the Title Sponsor of the Main Canada Day Stage in Major’s Hill Park. Quite fitting for a Canadian company as Hudson’s Bay is Canada’s most prominent department store with 90 full-line locations, two outlet stores and thebay.com. Founded in 1670, Hudson’s Bay Company, is in fact North America’s oldest company. Today, HBC offers customers a range of retailing categories and shopping experiences primarily in the United States and Canada. Our leading banners – Hudson’s Bay, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH – offer a compelling assortment of apparel, accessories, shoes, beauty and home merchandise.
For this year’s Canada Day celebration, they have released a limited edition of Canada Day merchandise such as I HEART Canada t-shirts for men and women, hoodies, Canada Colourblock BBQ apron, water bottle, pins, BAYWATCH BY CHARLES PACHTER towel (I want one!), Canvas Tote, baseball cap, water bottle, mugs, (a gorgeous!) luggage and more! You can get these Canadiana items in-store or online and remember, in case you show at the party without your red and white, there will be a pop-up shop at the official Hudsons Bay tent at Major Hills Park.
HUDSONS BAY HEARTS CANADA DAY – #IHEARTCANADA #IHEARTCANADAYOW
From 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on Wednesday, July 1st, the general public is invited to stop by the Hudson’s Bay tent at Major Hill’s Park. Visitors will have the chance to take a surfing-inspired selfie, enter to win a $1000 shopping spree, get an “I Heart Canada” tattoo and shop select Canada Day merchandise in the pop-up shop. 10% of sales will go to support the Canadian Olympic Foundation.
How about meeting a great Olympian during Canada Day? From 3pm to 4pm, visitors can meet and take a photo with Émilie Heymans, four-time Olympic medallist in Diving. As Canada’s first athlete to earn medals in four straight summer Olympic Games, Émilie Heymans is one of this country’s most accomplished Olympians. She collected a bronze medal at the London 2012 Games in the 3m synchronized springboard with partner Jennifer Abel, marking Canada’s first medal of the Games and adding to a legendary resume.
- 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. – Hudson’s Bay Tent on Major’s Hill Park is open
- 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Photo opportunities with Émilie Heymans
WATCH CANADA’S 148TH BIRTHDAY WITH SPECTACULAR CANADA DAY FIREWORKS
And for the highlight of the entire day and night, witness the spectacular Canada Day fireworks (sponsored by President’s Choice) at 10 pm.
The best place to watch the fireworks?
There are many spots in Ottawa and Gatineau (and other parts of the country too!) with great views of the fireworks. Check some fabulous spots here and here. When watching the displays from Gatineau (the Museum of History has a fabulous vantage point), you have amazing views of the fireworks illuminating Parliament Hill.
Remember, wherever you are and no matter how you choose to celebrate Canada Day 2015, keep in mind why we are celebrating this great nation in the first place. For many of us and many of our ancestors, this is our home away from home. Happy Birthday Canada!
Special Thank you to Taylor, Lydia, Andrew, Maureen and Angelo today for being our Canadiana models. For more Canada Day ideas on what to do, where to go and what to wear, follow @20YS on Twitter & @20YS on Instagram today. For behind the scenes from our shopping adventure, follow @20YS and on Twitter, Pinterest and @20YS on Instagram.
