St. Albert Botanic Park
Botanic Park volunteers are hosting a low-key Canada Day on July 1 with free lemonade and music in the gazebo. Entertainment is provided by Jan and Jim Baker and jazz singer Barbara Leah Meyer. It starts at 1:30 p.m. and continues until 3:15 p.m. with an intermission. The park is providing seating, however visitors are welcome to bring their own.
St. Albert Historic Sites
The Arts and Heritage Foundation is gearing up for a series of free activities at St. Albert’s Historic River Lots and Grain Elevators.
Visitors are encouraged to participate in a scavenger hunt, explore the gardens and tour settler houses and grain elevators. Painting stations are set up where budding artists can paint a beaver rock to take home. Beavers are Canada’s national animal symbolizing hard work, determination, perseverance, collaboration and adaptability.
Over at Father Lacombe Chapel on Mission Hill, games and activities will be set up for families. Anyone who is hungry can try ice cream and Bannock nibblers. All events at historical buildings take place July 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
City of St. Albert
The City of St. Albert has put a great deal of thought into planning activities to celebrate Canada Day.
The traditional event on Monday, July 1 is divided into three components. Events take place at Servus Place, Millennium Park and along Red Willow Trail.
Launching the day is a series of eclectic and culturally diverse performances and activities taking place at Servus Place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Close to 52 artists with diverse cultural backgrounds have been tapped to entertain visitors on two stages – an outdoor Main Stage and the indoor Northern Light Stage.
“We have a good representation of artists from St. Albert. There’s a lot of emerging local artists. But we also want to represent diversity in our community, There’s Latin, traditional African, East Indian and Indigenous,” said Kathleen Bell, community cultural coordinator.
Singers, dancers, drummers, circus performers and roving artists fill the roster. Additional Servus Place activities include face painting, inflatables, free public skating, and an official Canada Day ceremony led by a piper and colour guard at 12 p.m.
For the second year, the city is hosting a small pre-event friendly, sensory hour planned from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. It is aimed at families with children from three to 12 years who prefer a quieter way to celebrate with inflatables, toddler toys and Lego stations. Sensory kits are available to borrow upon entering.
“Our maximum capacity is for 100 people. Last year we had about 30-40 people. It was successful for a first time,” said Maurizio Giordano, supervisor for special events, Recreation and Parks.
Later at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. the family movie Kung Fu Panda 4 will be screened at Millennium Park. Fresh Air Cinema loads a large screen on a flatbed truck that can be easily viewed from the park’s grassy areas. Movie goers are recommended to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. Snacks can be purchased from food trucks.
Aerial Fireworks closes the evening at 11 p.m. with a spectacular 15-minute fireworks display mounted at Meadowview Ball Diamonds. Recommended viewing areas are Red Will Trail near the Children’s Bridge, Lions Park, Millennium Park and Morgan Park.
“The way we plan activities, we have a set schedule. If you are too busy to make it during the day, we hope you can make it in the evening,” said Giordano.
He added, “This is an event that brings people together. By celebrating our nation, we bring the community together to showcase how multicultural we truly are. Canada Day brings us all together in celebrating our diverse cultures.”
In an email to the Gazette, Giordano stated the cost of City of St. Albert's three events is offset by sponsorship, donations and grants and has a projected cost to the city in 2024 of approximately $85,000. This covers all event activities, entertainment and other operating and program supplies needed to make Canada Day fun and welcoming for all in St. Albert.
Limited parking is available on site. Free Park and Ride to Servus is available at Naki Transit Centre from 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Main Stage
10:00 to 10:25 a.m. - Mothra
10:40 to 11:10 a.m. - Sydney Bourbeau
11:15 to 11:45 a.m. - Jenn Nguyen
12 to 12:30 p.m. - Ceremony – Alexa Leon sings O Canada
1:00 to 1:45 p.m. - MelAfrique
2:05 to 2:35 p.m. - Alex Leon and Jorge Vargas
2:45 to 3:20 p.m. - Daniel Gervais
3:30 to 4 p.m. - Kaeley Jade
Northern Lights Stage
10 to 10:45 a.m. - Sangea Academy
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. - DJ Funkasaurus Rex
12 to 12:30 p.m. - Ceremony in case of rainout
12:30 to 1 p.m. - Safire
1:10 to 1:40 p.m. - Darrel Brertton Jr.
1:45 to 2:40 p.m. - DJ Funkasaurus
2:45 to 3:15 p.m. Safire
3:35 to 4 p.m. Usha Kala Niketan
