Canada Day 2023

Canadian Heritage hosts the big nation-wide celebration, based in the National Capital Region. The main event site is at LeBreton Flats Park. For details, visit the Government of Canada – Canada Day website.

Public transit is the best way to get around on Canada Day, especially since OC Transpo offers no-charge special service all day. Use OC Transpo’s Travel Planner to plan your trip. You can also connect with OC Transpo through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Downtown Ottawa will be very busy on Canada Day, with significant parking and traffic impacts. Any restrictions to travel in the downtown core will be posted here.

Looking for something to do on Canada Day that’s a little bit different? Ottawa has plenty of fun, family-friendly activities going on that you can explore all across the city. Check with local community groups for details.

• Canada Day Barrhaven
• Canada Day Road Races
• Dunrobin Canada Day Celebration
• Greely Community Association Canada Day
• Canada Day in Kanata
• Osgoode’s Canada Day Festival
• Canada Day on Petrie Island
• Riverside South Community Association Canada Day
• Canada Day in Stittsville

Leading up to and on Canada Day, you can learn more about the original Nations living on this land called Ottawa. Here are some events and resources to consider:

• Indigenous Experiences, Mādahòkì Farm, 4420 West Hunt Club Road, Ottawa
• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
• Indigenous relations resources at the City of Ottawa
• If you're on the O Train, be sure to explore the public artwork by 24 artists at 13 different stations

Getting around downtown on Canada Day will be complicated with numerous road closures and parking restrictions near Parliament Hill and LeBreton Flats. Plan your route ahead of time and expect delays. Public transit is your best option and OC Transpo is offering no-charge special service on Canada Day. Visit octranspo.com for details.

For the most current road conditions, visit the City’s interactive traffic map and select both the ‘Events’ and ‘Incidents’ fields.

Affected roads from 6 am July 1 to 2 am July 2 include:

Bank Street from Albert Street to Wellington Street

Bay Street from Albert Street to Wellington Street

Booth Street from Albert Street to rue Eddy, Gatineau

Bronson Avenue from Slater Street to Sparks Street

Fleet Street from Lett Street and Booth Street

Kent Street from Albert Street to Wellington Street

Lett Street from Fleet Street and Wellington Street

Lloyd Street from Fleet Street and Lett Street

Lyon Street from Albert Street to Wellington Street

Metcalfe Street from Queen Street to Wellington Street

O'Connor Street from Queen Street to Wellington Street

Portage Bridge from Wellington Street to rue Laurier, Gatineau

Queen Street from Bronson Avenue to Bank Street

Slidell Street/Onigam Street from Lemieux Island to Bayview Station Road

Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway at Parkdale Avenue and Wellington Street

Sparks Street from Bronson Avenue to Lyon Street North

Vimy Place from Wellington Street and Booth Street

Wellington Street from Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway to Elgin Street

From 5 pm to midnight

Albert Street from Bronson Street to Bayview Station Road

Slater Street from Albert Street to Bronson Avenue

Impacts outside of downtown on July 1

Some of the special events planned across the city on Canada Day impact nearby roads, with closures and parking restrictions, as listed below.

• Barrhaven
  • Strandherd Drive will be closed between Dealership Drive and Jockvale Road from 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm
  • Borrisokane Road will be closed from Cambrian Road to Strandherd Drive from 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm
• Canada Day Road Races, Kanata
  • The Parkway in Kanata will be closed between Reaney Court, Leacock Drive and Teron Road from 7:30 am to 10:00 am
• Greely
  • Access to Meadow Drive from Parkway to Bank Street will be closed between 8:30 am and 11 pm.
• Kanata
  • Charlie Rogers Place will be closed between Ron Maslin Way and the Kanata Recreation Centre from 8 am to 11:30 pm
• Orléans
  • Trim Road will be closed between Highway 174 and Petrie Island from 8 am to 12 midnight.
• Osgoode
  • Osgoode Main Street will be closed between Nixon Drive and 5673 Osgoode Main Street from noon to 1 pm

Canada Day is a busy day for transit. Give yourself plenty of time and plan your trip in advance.

There will be no-charge service on OC Transpo buses, O-Train Line 1, and Para Transpo all day (until 4 am) on Canada Day. Fare gates at stations will be open. OC Transpo’s Travel Planner is the best way to plan your trip or visit octranspo.com for details.

• Wading pools, outdoor pools and splash pads are open. 
• Most community centres are closed, while most arenas, recreation and fitness centres will be open with modified schedules. Please check each facility's page for hours details.
• Beaches at Mooney’s Bay, Britannia and Petrie Island are open and supervised between noon and 7 pm.
• Museums are open from 10 am with free admission and self-guided exploration. 
• Nepean Visual Arts Centre, Shenkman Arts Centre and Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe are closed on Saturday, July 1.
• The Karsh Masson Gallery, City Hall Gallery, Gallery 112 and City of Ottawa Archives are closed on Saturday, July 1. 

If you plan to light fireworks, remember they are permitted only on June 30, July 1 and July 2. Here are some things to know in advance.

Purchasing fireworks

• The sale of consumer fireworks is prohibited in Ottawa, except on Canada Day and the seven business days leading up to it.

Firecrackers prohibited in Ottawa and Ontario

• Under the provincial law and the City’s fireworks by-law, the sale and use of firecrackers are strictly prohibited.

Location and age requirement for discharging fireworks

• Fireworks displays must be directly supervised by an adult, 18 years and older, and must take place on private property – with permission from the property owner.
• Even on private properties, fireworks cannot be discharged if it poses danger to other individuals and properties. This will include any property nearby other homes, apartments, roadways, sidewalks and public spaces.

No discharging fireworks on City parks and sports fields

• Discharging fireworks is not allowed on City property – which includes all parks, sports fields and beaches.

School properties and sports fields are out of bounds too

• The four local school boards – Ottawa Catholic School Board, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Le Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est and Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario – do not allow discharging fireworks on all school premises, including all track and sports field areas.

Full details on the City of Ottawa’s Fireworks By-law is available on ottawa.ca as well as safety tips. Residents can report issues with fireworks online through ServiceOttawa at ottawa.ca.

Other by-laws

By-law and Regulatory Services will have Officers out on the streets ensuring all City of Ottawa by-laws are obeyed by residents and visitors.

• No unnecessary motor-vehicle or other noise, including speakers or shouting
• No unnecessary motor-vehicle idling
• No encumbering a sidewalk or roadway by any means, including setting up tents or other illegal structures
• No public urination and defecation
• No open air fires
• No littering
• Discharging of fireworks – contravening any regulations under Fireworks By-Law.

Tickets will be issued to any individual in violation of any City of Ottawa by-law. Fines for many of these municipal by-law violations have been recently raised to $1,000.

The City of Ottawa would like to remind residents of the following schedule changes and impacts to City services for the Canada Day holiday on Monday, July 3.

Client Service Centres

• The City’s 3-1-1 Contact Centre will be open for urgent matters only. Please visit ottawa.ca/311 for more information.
• The Client Services Centres at Ottawa City Hall, Ben Franklin Place, 580 Terry Fox Drive, 255 Centrum Boulevard and the City’s Provincial Offences Court at 100 Constellation Drive will be closed.
• The Business Licensing Centre at 735 Industrial Avenue will be closed.
• The City of Ottawa Spay and Neuter clinic at 26 Concourse Gate will be closed.

Green bin, recycling and garbage collection

• There will be no impacts to green bin, recycling and garbage collection. 
• Residents can sign up to receive collection reminders and service alerts by email or phone call at ottawa.ca/CollectionCalendar.  
• The Trail Waste Facility will be open from 9 am to 5 pm. 

Ottawa Public Health

• Visit the COVID-19 Vaccine page for vaccination clinic hours and availability. 
• Visit the ParentingInOttawa web page for vaccination clinic hours and availability. 
• The Sexual Health Clinic and satellite clinics will be closed. 
• The Site program office and supervised consumption services at 179 Clarence Street will be closed. The Site mobile van will operate from 5 to 11:30 pm. 
• The Ottawa Public Health Information Centre and the COVID-19 booking line will be closed. 
• Dental clinics will be closed. 
• The Parenting-In-Ottawa drop-ins will be closed. 

Municipal child care services

• All municipal child care centres will be closed.

Library services

• All Ottawa Public Library branches will be closed on Monday, July 3. Virtual services, loans and programs can be accessed on the Ottawa Public Library website.

Ottawa is a safe and inclusive city for everyone. While the City of Ottawa respects the fundamental right to protest, the City is responsible for ensuring residents and visitors feel safe in our community. Canada Day is a celebration of our people and values. The City upholds those values: a diversity of minds, perspectives, cultures and lived experiences, and denounces any displays of hate and racism.

Sometimes we see people who disregard these same values, and this can affect everyone differently. If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, please reach out and speak to someone. For mental health services and supports, please visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/StressfulEvents.

Keep safety top of mind as you plan your Canada Day activities:

• Keep an eye on the weather and know how to beat the heat.
• Protect yourself from the effects of too much sun with these sun safety tips from Ottawa Public Health.
• Heading to the pool, lake or river? Be sure to practice water safety.
• Planning on having some drinks? Please do so safely and responsibly.  OC Transpo offers no-charge special service on Canada Day. Never drink and drive. Plan ahead.
• Partying? Keep yourself and your friends safe, visit the #PartySafer webpage