Chris Fox, CP24.com
Torontonians are getting ready to mark Canada’s birthday and while Sunday’s festivities may not carry the pomp of last year’s Canada 150 celebrations, there will still be plenty to do.
From fireworks, to parades and concerts, there is no shortage of activities taking place throughout Toronto this weekend and if the beach is more your thing you can do that too but you may want to remember the sunscreen - Toronto remains under a heat warning with a daytime high of 35 C forecast for Canada Day.
Here is a list of everything you need to know as you plan your Canada Day weekend:
Fireworks
The big fireworks show is taking place at Ashbridges Bay but you there are at least a half-dozen other fireworks displays planned for elsewhere in the city.
Amesbury Park at 10 p.m.
Ashbridges Bay/Woodbine Park at 10 p.m.
Centennial Park at 10 p.m.
Milliken Park at 10 p.m.
Mel Lastman Square at 10:30 p.m.
Stan Wadlow Park at 10 p.m.
Weston Lions Park at 10 p.m.
Parades
There are two Canada Day parades taking place in the east end, so you can have your choice.
The annual East York Canada Day begins near Dieppe Park at 10 a.m. and wraps up at Stan Wadlow Park at 1 p.m. The parade travels eastbound on Cosburn Avenue to Coxwell Avenue, southbound on Coxwell Avenue to Sammon Avenue, eastbound on Sammon Avenue to Woodbine Avenue and northbound on Woodbine Avenue to O'Connor Drive.
The annual Scarborough Canada Day parade then gets underway at 4 p.m. This year’s edition is expected to consit of more than 50 floats and 20 bands. The parade starts on Brimley Road near Ellesmere Road and heads south along Brimley to Lawrence Avenue.
Events
The city’s official Canada Day celebration takes place at Mel Lastman Square in North York this year and is sure to be a musical affair. There will be a DJ stage featuring performances by DJ Classic Roots, DJ Sean Sax and DJ Nino Brow and there will also be a main stage with performances by Kristin Fung, Los Poetas and Shakura S’Aida. Events get underway at 5 p.m. and wrap up upon the conclusion of the fireworks scheduled for 10:30 p.m.
There will be a free pancake breakfast at Thomson Memorial Park at 10 a..m., followed by a full day of activities and entertainment. Musical performers include Southern Fried, Blush, Destiny and The Arsenals featuring Sonia Collymore.
The 18th annual Toronto Ribfest is taking place at Centennial Park in Etobicoke from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., at which point attendees can stay to catch the fireworks. In addition to tender ribs, there will also be live entertainment a midway and a kids zone.
Stores in Nova Scotia will observe Canada Day on Sunday, July 1 this year rather than Monday, July 2 after the province changed retail store closing rules.
Until this year, when the holiday fell on a Sunday, stores were required to close the next day under the federal Holidays Act.
An industry group representing the retail sector pushed for new legislation for six years, saying it caused red tape for business.
Monday is a better day for business
Jim Cormier, the Atlantic director for the Retail Council of Canada, congratulated the Nova Scotia provincial government for making the change.
"It's good for business in that they're going to get to be open on Monday, July 2, which is potentially going to be a more profitable day than being open for business on Canada Day when people are off doing other things."
The majority of retail workers said they would prefer to have Canada Day off, said Cormier, citing a provincial survey.
Most regions across the country have already made the change except for New Brunswick. Cormier says that province has ignored his organization's efforts.
"This is a complete no-brainer," he said. "It should be really very easy to fix. You just need to have a will from government to do so. It just became a matter of complete frustration.
"A lot of our retailers, they just continually shook their head on this. They said, 'Yeah, it only impacts us every six years, but in this day and age it shouldn't be happening.'"
A government spokesperson in New Brunswick said the concerns will be taken into consideration.
"We appreciate concerns about the importance of employees being able to enjoy holidays while at the same time ensuring that retailers continue to be able to meet the needs of their customers," said Anthony Doiron in an emailed statement.
What's closed on Canada Day in Nova Scotia:
Grocery stores, retail stores, the NSLC and malls will be closed on Sunday, July 1. Stores will reopen on Monday July 2.
Halifax public libraries will be closed on Sunday and Monday.
Halifax Transit will operate on Sunday service on July 1 and holiday service on July 2. The Alderney ferry will be free all day on Canada Day, from 7:30 a.m.- 1:30 a.m., with passengers encouraged to bring donations for Feed Nova Scotia.
Read more articles on CBC Nova Scotia
The sun is forecast to be shining for Canada Day weekend and there will be plenty of chances to take advantage of the hot weather.
But on Sunday and Monday, many businesses will be closed.
Here's more on what's open and what's closed on Canada Day and the holiday Monday in Toronto:
Services
Government services, including banks, libraries, government offices and post offices, will be closed on Monday. Toronto Public Libraries will be closed on both Sunday and Monday.
Pools and recreation
City of Toronto parks, outdoor swimming pools, wading pools, splash pads and swimming beaches will be open on Sunday for Canada Day.
All swimming beaches on Toronto Island Park are open and lifeguards are on duty from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Indoor pools and community centres will be closed.
The City of Toronto pools are expected to be a popular place to cool off in the midst of a heat wave this weekend. (Emilop Avalos/Radio Canada)
Grocery stores
Here are some grocery stores that will be open this weekend and their hours:
Loblaws: 10 Lower Jarvis, open Sunday (7 a.m. to 11 p.m.), closed Monday.
Loblaws: 3501 Yonge St., open Sunday (7a.m. to 11 p.m), closed Monday.
Whole Foods 87 Avenue Rd.: open Sunday (8 a.m. to 9 p.m.), open Monday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
All Toronto's Rabba stores open 24 hours.
Bloor Street Market in the Manulife Centre: open Sunday (9 a.m. to 8 p.m.), open Monday (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Metro at 444 Yonge St.: open 24 hours.
The Kitchen Table locations are open both Sunday and Monday at various opening times:
10 Queens Quay West (6 a.m. to 12 a.m.)
389 Spadina Rd. (7 a.m. to 12 a.m.)
595 Bay St. (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
705 King St. West (7 a.m. to 2 a.m.)
Here are the hours of liquor stores:
LCBO: regular hours on Sunday, closed on Monday.
Beer Store: open on Sunday (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), closed on Monday.
The Wine Rack: open on Sunday (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), closed on Monday.
Transit
TTC service will operate on a Sunday service schedule on July 1 and holiday service on July 2.
GO Transit will operate on a regular schedule on July 1 and a Saturday schedule on July 2.
Shopping Malls
Eaton Centre: open on Sunday and Monday (11 a.m. to 7p.m.).
Yorkville Shopping Centre: open on Sunday (12 p.m. to 5 p.m.), Monday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
Square One Shopping Centre: open on Sunday (11 a.m. - 7p.m.).
Promenade Mall: open on Sunday (12 to 5 p.m.), open on Monday (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
Hillcrest Mall: open on Sunday and Monday (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
Pacific Mall: regular hours on Sunday and Monday.
Scarborough Town Centre: open on Sunday (11 a.m. - 7 p.m.), closed on Monday.
Dufferin Mall: open on Sunday (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), closed on Monday.
Yorkdale Mall: open on Sunday (11 a.m. - 7p.m.), closed on Monday.
Sherway Gardens: open on Sunday (11 a.m. - 6p.m), closed on Monday.
CF Fairview Mall: open on Sunday (11 a.m. - 6p.m), closed on Monday.
Bayview Village: open on Sunday (12 p.m. - 5p.m.), closed on Monday.
Shoppers take a seat as crowds visit Toronto's Eaton Centre . (Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Tourist attractions
From Colwood to Sidney and points in-between there are many events planned for the Canada Day weekend.
They include:
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• About 50,000 people are expected to gather Sunday around Victoria’s Inner Harbour for Canada Day celebrations beginning at noon that feature family-friendly events and main-stage performances.
Festivities include performances from a giant stage on the legislature lawn, a living flag (T-shirt pickup is 12:30 p.m. for participants, assembly at 1:30 p.m.), the flavour of Canada food village, an Indigenous blessing and the Lekwungen Dancers. The Band of Rascals are scheduled to perform at 8:20 p.m. and Carmanah at 9:20 p.m.
Fireworks are scheduled for 10:20 p.m.
Belleville Street (Menzies to Douglas) will be closed Canada Day from 6 a.m. to midnight and Government Street ( Humboldt to Superior) will be closed 4 p.m. to midnight.
People are encouraged to walk, bike or bus.
There will be free valet bike parking adjacent to the legislature buildings. B.C. Transit will be running on a Sunday schedule with supplemental buses.
For more information: canadadayvictoria.ca.
• The Gorge Canada Day Picnic celebrates its 20th birthday with a community get-together that includes a pancake breakfast, strawberry tea and canoe rides. The free event runs 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Gorge Road between Admirals and Tillicum roads.
There will be a family parade, entertainment at four stages, almost 30 food vendors, a family theatre, road hockey and soccer.
The very popular traditional strawberry tea, served in the Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club building, is only $3 and runs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. But come early, as it always sells out.
Artisans will be on hand with their wares and a collection of classic and vintage cars will be found at the Show and Shine Show.
There is no parking and no vehicle traffic during the event. More at gorgecanadaday.ca.
• Sidney Days and Canada Day combine in four days of music, food, dancing and, of course, fireworks, now until Tuesday.
Saturday features cultural performances, a formal opening ceremony, music and fireworks set to music at 10:15 p.m.
On Canada Day, there’s a pancake breakfast, a parade, a family fun fair and the build-a-boat race. The celebrations wrap up on Monday, when Beacon Avenue is closed to traffic for a Sidewalk Sale and Street Festival hosted by area businesses.
For more information visit: sidney.ca.
• Canada Day is the only day of the year when admission is free to Fort Rodd Hill and the Fisgard Lighthouse national historic sites in Colwood.
Celebrations will feature Canada Day’s biggest birthday cake, live music and activities for children.
Visitors can explore the 155-year-old Fisgard Lighthouse, Canteen, Belmont and Lower Batteries, the Fortress Plotting Room or other historic buildings on the property from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The site is at 603 Fort Rodd Hill Rd.
For more details: fortroddhill.com/index.html.
