
A summer of celebration.
That’s what Mayor Lyn Hall is calling the summer of 2017, which will be filled with reflection, good Canadian fun, and – yes, celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation.
“Prince George residents are proud of Canada and they love to celebrate the cultures of our community and our country,” said Mayor Hall, in a press release. “The events associated with Canada Day and Canada 150 will make this a ‘summer of celebration’ in Prince George. This is a time to reflect on our history and imagine our shared future together. On behalf of Council, I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Canada Day celebration and a happy Canada 150.”
Canada Day activities
In fact, most residents will never have experienced a more fun and event-filled summer in Prince George, thanks to an action-packed itinerary of art, culture, cuisine, and a whole lot of music all anchored by the theme of Canada.
“It all begins on Canada Day, with Prince George’s annual Canada Day celebration in Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park,” said Civic Events Coordinator, Jen Tkachuk. “Residents can have fun in the park and take in the Celebrate 150 Canoe Race and a flyover from the Royal Canadian Airforce. Making this year’s Canada Day even more special is the addition of the Canada 150 “Heatwave” performances that kick off the evening in Canada Games Plaza with the French Connection, Andino Suns, and Delhi 2 Dublin. There will also be food trucks galore on site. After that: the Canfor Canada Day Fireworks!”
For a listing of Canada Day events, visit the City’s website.
Royal Canadian Airforce Flyover
For Canada Day, the City of Prince George has requested a fly-over by the Royal Canadian Airforce to help those gathered in the park to celebrate and mark Canada’s 150th birthday.
Consequently, the 419 tactical squadron will be supplying a CP-140 aircraft for a flyover of Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park at about 1:00pm on Saturday.
According to the flight plan, the long-range patrol aircraft will take off from the Prince George Airport (YXS), head west to the Fraser River, and then head north up the river and past the park.
Canada Day Transit – ride for a buck (or a donation to the Salvation Army)
Also on July 1, transit users will be able to ride the bus for only $1 thanks to BC Transit and the City of Prince George. In lieu of the $1 special Canada Day fare, customers may choose to donate a non-perishable food item to the Salvation Army in exchange for riding the bus.
Bus routes will run on a Sunday schedule, with extended service on route 46 until 4:30pm. Routes 15, 88, and 89 will offer extended late-night service ending at midnight.
Canada’s birthday celebrations will continue throughout the week with the Canada 150 Heatwave outdoor festival at Canada Games Plaza. Regular transit fares and schedules will apply.
For more information about transit routes, schedules and service alerts, please call 250-563-0011 or visit BC Transit’s website.
#CelebratePG contest
This year, to make things even more fun and interesting, the City of Prince George is launching a contest for residents and visitors who enjoy social media.
The grand prize will be a prize package, including two tickets to the “I love the 90s featuring Vanilla Ice and Salt’n’Pepa” concert at the CN Centre on September 17, and taste tickets to Downtown PG’s Summerfest on July 16. In addition to the grand prize, participants are eligible for one of three other prize packages.
To enter, simply take a photo of yourself in your summer sunglasses (preferably the City’s Celebrate PG sunglasses!) and post it to Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter with the hashtag #CelebratePG.
The randomly selected winners will be announced on all three platforms on Tuesday, July 11.