Canada Day is tomorrow (July 1) and the Tri-Cities communities are hoping to offer something for everyone to mark the occasion.
Here's a last-minute guide to the weekend celebrations, including performance schedules, parking and potential road closures:
Coquitlam
Town Centre Park: noon to 10:30 p.m.
- 12:30 p.m., Opening ceremonies
- Noon to 6:45 p.m., Live entertainment including:
- Balkan Shmalkan (Eastern European; pop, jazz music)
- Karima Essa (Bollywood; dance)
- Jultagi (Korean; tightrope walking)
- The Myrtle Family Band (Vaudeville; comedy, dance, jazz music)
- Will's Jams (Children; bilingual, rock-pop music)
- Bakara Band (Persian; pop music)
- Forro Do Cano (North Eastern Brazil; music, dance)
- 8:30 p.m.
- The Suits
- 10 p.m., fireworks display
Getting there
Consider the following in getting to Town Centre Park on Saturday....
- Transit – The Canada Day event is located a short ten-minute walk from the Lafarge Lake-Douglas Skytrain station, with a clearly marked paved path leading the way to the event grounds
- Bike – Attendees who choose to ride their bike to the event can access the free on-site bike valet service stationed along Trevor Wingrove Way
- Vehicle – For those who arrive by vehicle, free parking will be available in the lots off of Trevor Wingrove Way and at the Douglas College surface lots
- Pick-up/drop-off – There will be designated pick-up and drop-off areas in parking lot A (on the west side of the park off of Trevor Wingrove Way adjacent to Pinetree Way)
There will be a road closure in effect on Pinetree Way between Guildford Avenue and Pinewood Avenue from 9:30 to 11 p.m. for the fireworks display.
For more information on Coquitlam's Canada Day celebrations, you can visit the city's website.
Port Coquitlam
Lions Park: 8 to 11 a.m.
- Pancake breakfast served by the local Lions Club - Lions Park ($8/adult, $5/child under 10)
- Free fishing derby with prizes for children age 10 and under (no registration required).
Castle Park: noon until 10 p.m.
- 12 p.m., Opening Ceremonies, national anthem and cookies
- 12:20 to 7 p.m., Live entertainment including:
- Miss Shauna
- Leadway
- Side One
- Ache Brasil
- Royal Oak
- 7 to 10 p.m.
- Dusk, Grand finale fireworks display by Archangel Fireworks
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Parking, road closures and detours
On Saturday....
- Mary Hill pedestrian overpass and Castle Park trails: Closed at 8 pm.
- Citadel Drive from Confederation Drive to Castle Crescent: No parking 6 a.m. to midnight.
- Vehicles must be moved from the above locations by 6 a.m. to avoid being towed.
- Citadel Drive from Pitt River Road to Castle Crescent: Local traffic only after 6 p.m.
Street closures from 6 p.m. to midnight:
- Colonial Drive at Citadel Drive
- Nova Scotia Avenue (both entrances) at Citadel Drive (local access for residents only)
- Castle Crescent (both entrances) at Citadel Drive (local access for residents only)
Vehicles must be moved from the above locations by 9 p.m. to avoid being towed.
Local residents affected by these road closures to access their homes will have access and may be required to show their BC driver’s license to officials at the checkpoints. Detours are in place and residents should watch for signage and traffic control personnel.
Parking is available at the schools in the area.
Shuttles available
Event-goers are encouraged to take transit, walk, cycle or enjoy free round-trip shuttle services to and from various locations throughout Port Coquitlam. The shuttles will run every 30 minutes from 12 to 11 p.m. (times may be delayed due to traffic) from these locations:
- North Side
- Minnekhada Middle School
- Terry Fox Secondary
- Downtown
- Westcoast Express Port Coquitlam Station (Wheelchair accessible bus will be marked)
- South Side
- Mary Hill Elementary
- Kilmer Elementary
Shuttle busses will drop off event-goers at Castle Park. Strollers are allowed on the shuttle bus and should be folded and placed in its luggage area.
A wheelchair-accessible bus will be available. For more information, you can visit the Canada Day page of the City of Port Coquitlam's website.
The Tri-City News is a media sponsor of Port Coquitlam's Canada Day celebrations.
Port Moody
Rocky Point Park: 11 a.m to 10 p.m.
- 1 p.m., Opening ceremonies
- 2 to 8:30 p.m., Live entertainment including:
- Lindbjerg Academy
- Can Can Dancers
- Laughing Loggers
- Tri-Cities Got Talent
- Spike Driving
- A Night of Bowie
- 8:30 to 10 p.m.
- Honeymoon Suite
There will be a "Family Zone" in Rocky Point Park with professional gold panner Yukon Dan, children's entertainer Mr. Bubbles and a space for bubble soccer.
Admission into Golden Spike Days is by donation, according to its website, where you can find more information and a daily schedule of events.
All proceeds are set to go towards organizing the festival's 2024 installment.
When inside the gates, food and beverage vendors can accept cash, debit or credit card, and two ATMs will be on site. Outside drinks are prohibited, but patrons can bring empty water bottles to fill up inside.
Organizers encourage interested visitors to consider commuting with friends and family, take transit or bike to Rocky Point Park as parking spaces will be limited.
The Tri-City News is a media sponsor of the 2023 Golden Spike Days Festival.
