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Another round of Canada Day festivities is about to kick off in Saskatoon.
“Our theme and approach for Canada Day this year is a respectful honouring of our nation,” said Shad Ali, the city’s Canada Day director.
According to Ali, the hope for this year’s festivities is to make the celebrations inclusive for everyone, “so that people can really learn and appreciate how this country was truly formed, and the role our Indigenous brothers and sisters played in the formation of it.
“We have fully committed to the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” Ali added.
There is a full day of activities planned.
Some of the activities to help further the feeling of inclusiveness are an Indigenous drum, song and dance presentation, as well as performances from Nrityati Performing Arts, Ukrainian Canadian Congress, River City School of Irish Dance, Afghan Women’s Choir and more.
The festivities at Rotary Park and River Landing Amphitheatre start at 12 p.m. Saturday.
Action at Nasser Plaza begins at 11 a.m.
Fireworks start at 10:30 p.m.
While there will be plenty to do, the heat will be on this weekend. Saskatoon activated its Extreme Heat Emergency Response Plan on Friday, and it will run until Monday. There will be plenty of food and drink vendors placed around the areas that are hosting festivities to keep everyone cool.
The full list of events can be found online.
A number of traffic restrictions will go into effect during the long weekend.
The Traffic Bridge and Saskatchewan Crescent between Broadway and McPherson will be closed from Saturday morning until 1 a.m. Sunday. Spadina Crescent between Second Avenue and the Broadway Bridge will be closed from 8 a.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Sunday.
From Saturday morning until 1 a.m. Sunday, closures include the Broadway Bridge between 12th and 19th Streets, 19th Street between Third and Fourth Avenues, Fourth Avenue between 19th and 20th Streets, Saskatchewan Crescent from 13th Street to Broadway, and Spadina Crescent between Third Avenue and 20th Street.
Detours and “no parking” signs will be placed at the closures, the city said, and transit routes may also be affected.
Following the fireworks, the city said bus service will be free to ensure everyone gets home safely.
“After the fireworks, free buses will leave from locations on either side of the river (3rd Avenue northbound/north of 19th Street and Broadway Avenue southbound/south of 12th Street),” the city said in a statement.