The Program
Each year, Canada Place welcomes over 250,000 guests across six city blocks for one of the largest Canada Day celebrations across the country. The event is designed to be inclusive and engaging for guests of all ages, from infants to grandparents, blending live performances, interactive exhibits, and family-friendly activities into a full-day experience. With thoughtful site planning and iconic backdrops like the Olympic Cauldron, the program creates both large-scale spectacle and personal, hands-on moments of discovery.
The Entertainment
Entertainment was at the heart of the day, with more than 30 acts featured across three stages. The main stage, set at the south end of Jack Poole Plaza, offered guests a stunning view of both the entertainment and the city skyline, while building anticipation for the fireworks finale. Acts ranged from local talent to larger performers, keeping the schedule fresh and energetic throughout the day and ensuring every audience member could find something they enjoyed.
The Interactive Displays
Beyond the stages, guests were invited to explore immersive experiences that brought Canadian culture and industry to life. Inside Canada Place, the Canadian Inventions Hall highlighted homegrown ingenuity with hands-on exhibits featuring everything from the zipper and the snowmobile to McIntosh apples, poutine, and the Nanaimo bar. The Port Zone extended the interactive fun outdoors, where children and adults could test toy cranes, tour a shipping container, or try their hand at “driving” a speedboat. These displays encouraged exploration, play, and connection, making the event as memorable for learning as it was for entertainment.
Fireworks & Community Impact
The celebration concluded with a spectacular fireworks display over the waterfront, drawing the crowd together in a shared moment of national pride. Beyond the visual spectacle, the event demonstrated how large-scale programming, careful planning, and collaboration with partners like Canada Place and the Port of Vancouver can create an inclusive, safe, and joyful experience. By balancing entertainment, education, and cultural pride alongside highly detailed logistics, the Canada Day program became more than an event, it was a true celebration of community.
