Canada Day at Canada Place a Resounding Success

Vancouver, BC – O Canada! Canada Day at Canada Place welcomed an estimated 175,000 guests on July 1 to celebrate our nation in the heart of Vancouver. The new street festival was an overwhelming success, capped by the 1st Annual Canada Day Parade and Canada Day Burrard Inlet Fireworks Show.

Canada Day at Canada Place is the largest Canada Day event outside the nation's capital. The 2009 event, "Welcoming the World to Canada's Games," saw three stages of dynamic and interactive shows and all day free entertainment. Topping the list of highlights was “So You Think you Can Dance Canada’s” Arassay and Izaak who wowed guests with their stunning moves; Elise Estrada, a locally discovered talent, hypnotized attendees with her upbeat flare; and Soulstream’s smooth rhythm and funk had everyone dancing in the streets.

"We were thrilled to welcome 175,000 guests to Canada Day at Canada Place 2009," said Mike Shardlow, President & CEO, Canada Place Corporation. "The new Canada Day street festival was a great success and the 1st Annual Canada Day Parade is sure to become a new tradition as this year attracted approximately 100,000 spectators."

In celebration of Maillardville’s 100th anniversary, guests enjoyed sweet maple taffy while listening to favourite French Canadian artists. The Department of National Defense was out in force with Army, Navy and Air Force displays and the opportunity to meet the men and women who keep our country strong and free. Canada Day at Canada Place was the only place in Vancouver where it snowed on July 1, thanks to the innovative 20TENT, a chilled winter experience. We proudly welcomed 61 candidates into our Canadian family during the annual Citizenship Ceremony where the results of the "Our Canada" program were also announced. The country has spoken, and Canadians agree that freedom, diversity and nature are the three primary themes that shape Canada's identity today.

During the inaugural Canada Day Parade, Georgia Street came alive with over 50 parade entries. Irish, Celtic, Bhangra & Samba dancers, pipe bands, marching bands, parade floats, the Navy’s Naden Band of Maritime Forces Pacific, the Terminal City Roller Girls, BC Lions dancers, and much more wowed participants and was a perfect addition to the day’s celebration.

The Canada Day Burrard Inlet Fireworks Show once again featured an extravaganza for the senses as the two barge simultaneous show capped off the day’s festivities. The Canada Day fireworks danced to tunes broadcast by 99.3 The FOX.

Canada Day at Canada Place is proudly presented by Canada Place Corporation in partnership with the Department of Canadian Heritage, Celebrate Canada Committee for BC and Department of National Defense. Special thanks to the City of Vancouver for supporting this unique street festival. Thank you to our generous sponsors and supporters Coast Capital Savings, Edgewater Casino, Western Union, Port Metro Vancouver, VINCI Park, BC Ferries, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association and our media partners: CTV, CKNW, 99.3 The FOX, The Vancouver Sun, OMNI and CHMB AM1320.

The Canada Day Burrard Inlet Fireworks Show is presented by the Burrard Inlet Fireworks Society including Canada Place Corporation, the District of West Vancouver and the City of North Vancouver with support from the Department of Canadian Heritage and Celebrate Canada Committee for BC. Thank you to our sponsors: City of Vancouver, Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, Seaspan, Western Union, CTV, 99.3 The FOX, CHMB AM 1320, Vancouver Courier and North Shore News.

The 1st Annual Canada Day Parade is presented by the Burrard Inlet Fireworks Society, Department of Canadian Heritage and Celebrate Canada Committee for BC.

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For more information contact: 
Brett Calder 
Manager, Communications & Public Affairs 
604.775.6245 
bcalder@canadaplace.ca