Get ready to celebrate Canada Day in Ottawa

Events, fireworks, by-laws and more information

Feature story

Canada Day is just around the corner and Ottawa has plenty of opportunities for you to proudly celebrate our nation’s birthday safely and responsibly – from the main national event downtown to local community celebrations across the city.

National and community celebrations

Canadian Heritage is hosting a nation-wide celebration for Canada Day, with special events in downtown Ottawa! Returning again this year, the main event sites in Ottawa are at Parliament Hill, LeBreton Flats Park and in front of the Supreme Court of Canada. For full details, visit Canadian Heritage’s Canada Day website.

Many Ottawa communities host their own celebrations, bringing neighbours together to mark this special day. Check our Canada Day page for a listing of larger community events taking place and with your local community association, business improvement association, or other community group for further details and other nearby celebrations.

This year also marks the 200th anniversary of the founding of Bytown. Once a humble logging town along the Ottawa River, Bytown has grown into the vibrant city of Ottawa. Visit Ottawa Tourism’s Ottawa 200 page for opportunities to celebrate this milestone year, including:

• Voices of the Land: Canada Day Celebration of Indigenous Culture
• Canada Day hosted by Manotick Village and Community Association

Travelling on Canada Day

Roads across Ottawa will be very busy on Canada Day. Expect street closures, longer travel times, on-street parking restrictions, and public parking lots to fill up fast – especially in downtown Ottawa. More information on downtown traffic impacts will be shared on our Canada Day page.

OC Transpo is the best way to travel to Canada Day events across the city. This year, free transit service is presented by LiUNA Local 527 & 527A on OC Transpo buses, trains, and Para Transpo vehicles. OC Transpo will have extra service running throughout the day and into the evening. Para Transpo service will run until 3 am.

For the most up-to-date information, visit our interactive traffic map for road and parking impacts or OC Transpo’s Alerts page for transit impacts.

Celebrating safely and respectfully Fireworks

If you are holding your own celebrations with your friends or family, be aware about the regulations around Canada Day fireworks. Before lighting the fuse, here are some things to know about fireworks in advance:

• Purchasing firework: The sale of consumer fireworks is prohibited in Ottawa, except on Canada Day and the seven business days leading up to it.
• Firecrackers are prohibited: The City’s Fireworks By-law, the sale and use of firecrackers are strictly prohibited.
• Location and age requirements 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 includes any property nearby, such as 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.
• No discharging fireworks on school properties and sports fields: 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.

The City’s Fireworks By-law is available on ottawa.ca. Residents can report issues with fireworks online through ServiceOttawa.

Weather

Don’t let the weather put a damper on your celebrations. Whether it rains or shines, here are a few helpful items to carry with you:

• Re-usable water bottle
• Sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher)
• Sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat
• Waterproof jacket

For more information on celebrating safely, visit our Canada Day page.

More Canada Day information

Visit our Canada Day page for information on community celebrations, Indigenous events and reflections, fireworks guidelines, and how to stay safe as you enjoy your Canada Day activities.

The City has been working closely with Canadian Heritage, the Ottawa Police Service and other law enforcement agencies to ensure a fun and safe Canada Day for all.