Surprise lunch hour concert celebrates Canada 150 countdown

September 23, 2016

Canada Place at the Port of Vancouver to host expanded 2017 programming celebrating 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation

Vancouver, B.C.: A coast-to-coast-to-coast 150-day countdown leading to Canada’s 150th anniversary will celebrate Day 100 in Vancouver today with a surprise lunch-hour concert at Canada Place. Headlining the pop-up concert is Canadian country-music favourite Emerson Drive, who confirmed they will be one of the musical acts July 1, 2017, as part of the expanded three-day Canada Day at Canada Place festivities.

Welcoming close to one million people each year, Canada Place hosts the largest Canada Day celebration outside of Ottawa and 2017 marks both the 30th anniversary of the event and Canada’s 150th birthday. Many of the much-loved elements of past Canada Day at Canada Place events will be in place for an extended three-day celebration from July 1-3, including the Canadian Forces Zone, citizenship ceremony, Youth Zone, food trucks and a fireworks show, with added highlights for 2017.

In addition to the three-day Canada Day celebration, Canada Place will introduce an updated summer line-up of free community events for 2017, which includes a new event celebrating Canada’s diversity, communities and cultures on June 27. Multicultural Day will take place along The Canadian Trail and on the North Point of Canada Place. Dancers, musical acts, martial arts demonstrations, storytelling, artisan workshops, and cuisine from many cultures will be featured.

Returning for its tenth year is the National Aboriginal celebration at Canada Place on June 17, which features performers from nations across Canada sharing their stories through song, dance, drumming and spoken word. Also in June is Célébration de la Francophonie, featuring musicians, circus performers, and dancers from multiple French-speaking regions of Canada.

The popular Canada Place Summer Series will return to the newly renovated North Point of Canada Place for July and August 2017. In addition to the well-attended Waterfront Cinema and Zumba classes, Canada Place is pleased to introduce Picnics on the Point, a free weekly evening event to be held throughout the summer months on one of Vancouver’s most spectacular viewpoints. For additional details on 2017 events at Canada Place, visit www.canadaplace.ca.

“Canada Place is an iconic national landmark, a beacon in the heart of Vancouver’s waterfront and the ideal location to serve as a hub for the Canada 150 celebrations,” said Tom Corsie, President of Canada Place Corporation and Vice President of Real Estate at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “We look forward to welcoming locals and visitors to celebrate with us and we are proud to bring such phenomenal free programming to the community.”

2017 Canada Place events:

  • June 17: National Aboriginal Celebration
  • June 24: Célébration de la Francophonie
  • July 1-3: Canada Day at Canada Place
  • July and August: Canada Place Summer Series
  • December: Christmas at Canada Place

About Canada Place

Canada Place at Port of Vancouver is an internationally-recognized landmark and venue for world-class events and inspirationally Canadian experiences. For the last 30 years Canada Place has served as a hub for national celebrations, including National Aboriginal Day, Saint-Jean Baptiste and Canada Day at Canada Place. Canada Place is also homeport to the Vancouver-Alaska cruises, and houses Vancouver Convention Centre East, Pan Pacific Hotel, FlyOver Canada, World Trade Centre and WestPark.

About the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority manages the Port of Vancouver and is the owner and operator of Canada Place. The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest port and the third largest tonnage port in North America, facilitating Canada’s trade with more than 170 world economies. Located in a naturally beautiful setting on Canada’s west coast, port terminals and tenants enabled the trade of approximately $200 billion in goods in 2015, generating an estimated 100,000 jobs, $6.1 billion in wages, and $9.7 billion in GDP across Canada. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is responsible for the stewardship of federal port lands in and around Vancouver, British Columbia. It is accountable to the federal minister of transport and operates pursuant to the Canada Marine Act.

Media Contact

Emily Hamer
Manager, Strategic Communications
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604.665.9267