Celebrating Canada Together at Rotary Lakeside Park
Community and Canadian spirit will be full display on July 1 at Rotary Lakeside Park in Nelson when the Canada Day celebrations take centre stage with a whole day of great family fun taking place.
Family and Friends Gather for July 1st Festivities
There are bigger Canada Day celebrations across the country. But there may not be many better ones.
Every July 1, Nelson’s Rotary Lakeside Park transforms into something that feels uniquely Canadian. Families spread blankets beneath towering trees. Children race between games and activities. Friends gather beside the lake. Music drifts through the park. The smell of barbecue fills the air. It’s the kind of scene that reminds us why small-town celebrations continue to hold such a special place in Canadian life.
This year, the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce is once again inviting residents and visitors to celebrate Canada’s birthday at one of the region’s most picturesque gathering places. Canada Day marks the anniversary of Confederation on July 1, 1867, when Canada was formed as a federation of provinces, beginning a journey that would eventually grow into the country we know today.
“Canada Day in Nelson captures everything that makes this community special,” says Chamber President Rebeckah Hornung. “It brings together families, neighbours, Indigenous community members, visitors, businesses, volunteers, artists and community organizations in a way that reminds us how fortunate we are to live here. There is a genuine sense of connection throughout the day, and that’s something worth celebrating.”
Sinixt Paddlers Help Kick Off Special Day
The festivities begin at 10 am with members of the Sinixt Confederacy arriving by canoe on the shores of Lakeside Park, a powerful opening to a day rooted in community, culture and celebration. The Sinixt Canoe Journey is an Indigenous-led cultural and spiritual undertaking that reconnects Sinixt paddlers, artists and youth with their traditional territory along Kootenay Lake from Kaslo to Nelson.
The 10:30 am opening ceremonies will include speeches from community leaders and the singing of O Canada. After the 10:45 am Sinixt drum circle, attendees can take part in one of Nelson’s sweetest traditions as volunteers serve slices of the giant Canada flag cake to the public, a beloved tradition that typically disappears within minutes.
Throughout the day, live music will provide the soundtrack for celebrations in the shaded heart of the park while local businesses, organizations and community groups offer activities, games, face painting, crafts and interactive displays for visitors of all ages.
Canada Day food offerings begin on Baker Street with the annual Lions Club breakfast, running from 8 am to 11 am. Down at the park, the Rose Garden Cafe will be open from 10 am to 10 pm. Members of the Nelson Rotary Club will once again be serving up barbecue at the Lakeside Rotary Shelter between 11 am and 3 pm.
As evening arrives, attention will turn skyward for the Canada Day fireworks display, lighting up the night above Nelson’s waterfront and bringing another memorable celebration to a close.
While government funding helps support the event, the celebration relies heavily on the efforts of Chamber staff, member businesses, sponsors and dozens of volunteers who dedicate countless hours behind the scenes.
Major sponsors helping make the celebration possible include: the Adventure Hotel, Bennett Family Real Estate, Nelson Toyota, HUB International Insurance, the Cornerstone Group of Management, Kalesnikoff Lumber, Hume Hotel & Spa, Best Western Baker Street Inn, Nelson Home Hardware Building Centre, Buddy’s Place, Urban Legends and the Nelson & District Credit Union.
“This day is built by the community,” says Chamber executive director Tom Thomson. “From local businesses and sponsors to volunteers, performers and community groups, hundreds of people contribute to making Canada Day at Lakeside Park possible. We are proud to help bring everyone together for a celebration that has become a cherished tradition for residents and visitors alike.”
The setting itself is part of the attraction.
With its sandy beach, historic bridge, expansive green space and stunning views of Kootenay Lake, Lakeside Park offers the perfect backdrop for a summer gathering. It is a place where visitors can experience the charm of Nelson while celebrating a holiday that belongs to all Canadians.
Whether you’re continuing a family tradition or attending for the first time, the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to join in the festivities.
Canada turns 159 this year. In Nelson, the celebration will once again unfold beneath the trees, beside the lake and among friends at Lakeside Park.
SCHEDULE of EVENTS
8:00 am to 11:00 am Lions Club pancake breakfast on Baker Street
10:00 am Sinixt canoes land at Rotary Lakeside Park
10:30 am Opening ceremonies
10:45 am Sinixt Confederacy drum circle
11:00 am Canada Day cake is served
11:15 am John Burden
12:00 pm Sinixt mural blessing & Nelson Community Band
1:00 pm Tony Louie
1:30 pm Gates
2:15 pm Playmor Junction Big Band
3:10 pm Brenda McJones Highland Dancers
3:30 pm Kootenay Kilties Pipe Band
4:00 pm JEM Collective
4:40 pm Elodie Orsei
5:35 pm Aaron Pasacreta
6:30 pm Carefree Highway
7:30 pm White Lightning
8:30 pm Baker Street Blues
10:00 pm Fireworks
