Canada Day is this Friday, and after two years of virtual events, festivities will be in full swing all around the Peace Region.

Celebrations in Pouce Coupe will kick off at 9am, with a pancake breakfast at the Pouce Coupe Legion.

The Parade will start at 11am on 49th Avenue, and will offer a chance to celebrate Pouce Coupe’s 90th anniversary. Anyone wishing to participate in the parade must register before July 1st, either by emailing admin@poucecoupe.ca or visiting the Village Office.

There will also be activities in Pouce Park beginning at 12pm, with live entertainment all afternoon. There is also a Bingo event at the Seniors Hall at 1pm, and a dance at the Legion Hall from 6pm to midnight. Tickets for the dance can be bought in advance for $25, or $30 at the door, and the event will feature a silent auction.

Fireworks will begin at dusk, and will launch from the water tower site on the northwest corner of town.

Pouce Coupe is also providing free shuttle service from the Pouce Coupe ball diamonds to Pouce Park, beginning at noon and running every half hour.

The District of Chetwynd is also hosting a celebration, with the Water Play Park holding its official grand opening at 11:30, and activities and games from 1-3 pm. Chetwynd’s Canada Day parade will also begin at 11 at the district office.

Chetwynd’s fireworks will begin at 11pm at Rotary Park.

Moving north, Hudson’s Hope also has some activities planned from 11am to 3pm at the Pool Park. There will be a free BBQ, a farmer’s market, games and crafts, a free swim, and a water balloon fight. There will also be live music from 1-3pm.

Finally, Fort St. John has partnered with the Treaty 8 Tribal Association to deliver an entire day of activities. The Fire Department will be providing a free pancake breakfast beginning at 8:30am. Donations will also be accepted and will go toward the Fire Department’s efforts to purchase smoke alarms for the community.

Other activities throughout the morning include the Canada Day Car Show along 100th Street, guided tours of the North Peace Museum, and food vendors in the North Peace Leisure Pool parking lot. There will be live entertainment at Centennial Park starting at 11:30am – the lineup includes Powwow dancers and folk musician Kym Gouchie. There will also be family activities at Centennial Park, including bouncy castles, face painting, carnival games, and mini golf.

Fort St. John’s Canada Day Parade will begin at 11am. Due to construction on 100th Street, the parade will start at the North Peace Arena, go north along 98th Street, turn right on 108th Avenue, then return to the arena via 96th Street.

Fort St John’s fireworks will begin at 10:45pm, and you can watch them from Surerus Park or the area south of 112th Avenue and east of the Fort St. John Hospital.