The Toronto Entertainment District is home to an array of Canada 150 festivities. With the sesquicentennial, Toronto Entertainment District members are providing memorable experiences that celebrate the art, culture and vitality of the district and pay homage to this special national celebration.
An occasion of this magnitude brings celebrations on the July 1st weekend and year-round throughout the Toronto Entertainment District by a number of members namely CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Steam Whistle Brewing, Toronto Blue Jays, The National Ballet of Canada, The Second City, TIFF, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Fairmont Royal York, The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto and SOCO restaurant at the Delta Toronto.
According to Janice Solomon, Executive Director of the Toronto Entertainment District BIA, “An inspired sense of community and national pride is showcased with the various Canada 150 activities throughout the district. We are incredibly proud of the work members of this great community have done in honor of this momentous occasion and welcome all to attend.”
City of Toronto Councillor for Ward 20, Joe Cressy, further adds, “Canada 150 Celebrations have brought together so many unique opportunities within the Toronto Entertainment District. I encourage all residents and visitors to experience as many as they can.”
The July 1st weekend celebrations are highlighted with several activities along the bustling Bremner Blvd. CN Tower will celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary with a spectacular fireworks display and lightshow starting at 10:30pm. Spectators can watch the fireworks from a number of vantage points throughout the district and hear the music simulcast on boom97.3FM or online at boom973.com.
Neil Jones, Chief Operating Officer, CN Tower, states, “As a Canadian icon, Toronto landmark and engineering wonder, we felt it was important that the CN Tower mark Canada’s 150th anniversary with a fireworks show unlike anything we’ve done before. We encourage people to come down to the CN Tower or find their own perfect spot in the city to view the show and celebrate this milestone with us.”
Steam Whistle Brewing, in partnership with The Hudson Bay Company, will be celebrating Canada’s 150th in true Canadian fashion; Live music, great Canadian food, an iconic Canadian retail pop up shop for ‘go-to’ Canada 150 swag and Canada’s Premium Pilsner on July 1st from 11am – 1am. Partnered with Riverfest Elora, live music will feature The Elwins, Dani Nash, Brookside, The Boo Radley Project, Cheap Flights and Castles. DJ Paul Lee will be leading evening music session from 8pm-1am.
To kick off a month-long celebration of Canada 150 at Rogers Centre, the Toronto Blue Jays will host two home games against the Boston Red Sox on July 1 and 2. Family fun activities around the ballpark will begin at 9 a.m., with gates opening at 11 a.m. and first pitch at 1:07 p.m. The first 20,000 fans in attendance will receive a red replica Blue Jays hat presented by Honda on July 1, and a Blue Jays & Canada 150 commemorative baseball presented by Rogers on July 2. The Blue Jays will celebrate Canada 150 at every Sunday home game in July with giveaways, entertainment, and more.
Delta Toronto, SOCO restaurant will be featuring a Canadian inspired menu with DJ entertainment on the patio. Additionally, SOCO TO GO will feature a fun street side hot dog grill with picnic ‘to go’ items for everyone to enjoy. The Roof at SOCO will offer a Blue Jays pre-game venue with a DJ from 11am – 1:15pm followed by a ticketed exclusive cocktail reception and spectacular bird’s eye view of the CN Tower fireworks from 9pm – 11:30pm.
According to Adam Vaughan, MP, Spadina-Fort York, “The Canada 150 milestone is an exciting time for our country. On behalf of the Parliament of Canada, I welcome everyone to enjoy this celebration and experience all the events the Toronto Entertainment District in partnership with the Federal Government has to offer.”
There are even more activities currently underway in the district in celebration of Canada’s 150:
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada Splash into Canada 150, TIFF’s Canada on Screen initiatives, Toronto Symphony Orchestra Canada Mosaic project, The National Ballet of Canada 150 Pointes of Canada, The Second City Canada: The Thinking Man’s America and 150 themed offerings from The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto and Fairmont Royal York. Visit torontoed.com/Canada 150 for the latest details.