Celebrations for Canada’s 153rd birthday will be different from in-person festivities of the past due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so students are getting creative this year.
With annual traditions cancelled, students said they are uncertain of their plans.
Camille Mageau, a fourth-year nutrition student at the University of Ottawa said her traditional celebration of having a pool party with her friends who are from other universities is cancelled.
“It sucks, it’s one of the times where we get to all be together which doesn’t happen often,” Mageau said. “This year, I have unknown plans and I feel like lots of people can relate to that.”
Other students are finding ways to celebrate creatively.
Backyard festivities
Backyard festivities are a popular choice for celebrating this year, as many students look towards simpler ways of celebrating within pandemic guidelines.
To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Ontario has limited social gatherings to 10 people.
Claire Borgaonkar, a third-year public affairs and policy management student at Carleton University, returned home to Newfoundland and said her annual traditions will be put on pause this year.
“There were a lot of kids who lived in my neighbourhood when I was growing up, so all the parents used to organize a giant barbecue on Canada Day with games and fireworks for the whole block,” Borgaonkar said.
She added that Newfoundland is currently allowing social gatherings of up to 6 people.
“I’m planning for a much quieter day than usual, probably spent with a couple of close friends in our backyard.”
Trinity Gadway, a second-year international development studies student at Saint Mary’s University, said that her traditions were also altered.
“Something cool about Halifax is that there are usually events on both sides of the harbour all night and the ferry is free, so people traverse back and forth to see all the things,” she said.
This year, Gadway said she will be drinking and playing music with her friends around a backyard fire.
Students who usually attend festivals with live bands and fireworks are also opting for barbecues in their backyard.
Celine, a third-year communications student at Wilfrid Laurier University, said she attended the Square One festival in Mississauga last year, but she will be having a barbecue with her family this year.
Similarly, Grace Yin, a fourth-year business student at the University of Toronto, said she will be having a barbecue with her family. She added that she is inviting her two roommates who are international students and have never celebrated Canada Day.
“Since they are both international students, one from the United States and the other from China, they are both somewhat stranded and are unable to reunite with their families,” Yin said.
She added that she’s disappointed she can’t get together with more friends for festivals, but “there’s always next year.”
Getting back to nature
National and provincial parks are reopening, which means students are able to plan picnics and hikes with their families.
Aira Villanueva, a third-year science student at the University of Winnipeg, said while she watches fireworks annually with her family, there will be no fireworks where she is living this year.
“As of June 27, there have been 15 active COVID-19 cases in Manitoba, so we have to be mindful of where to celebrate,” Villanueva said.
She is planning on celebrating at a provincial park where she will be mushroom hunting, kayaking, and watching the sunset.
Himanshi Khurana, a first-year masters of science in physiotherapy student at McMaster University, said she will also be enjoying the outdoors with a walk around a port in Mississauga with her family.
“We’re going to have a picnic with strawberry smoothies using whatever strawberries the birds leave for us from our backyard,” she said.
With recreational spaces also recently re-opening, students have been playing sports this summer.
Norton Ngo, a fourth-year global and international studies student at Carleton University, said he will be playing golf in Ottawa with a group of friends on Canada Day.
“The courses take measures such as one person per golf cart unless you’re from the same household and all the flagsticks have an attachment inside the hold to limit contact,” he said.
Enjoying outdoor activities at the cottage is another way students are celebrating.
Eric Vinh, a fourth-year nutrition student at the University of Ottawa, said he’s going to Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron and staying at a cottage with his girlfriend’s family.
“We’ll be going hiking around the trails, kayaking, landscaping, chopping wood, swimming, windsurfing, going to a local town to walk around, and playing board games together,” he said.
Alec Bales, a third-year engineering physics student at Carleton University, said he’s also going to his cottage in Kawartha Lakes with his family.
“We’ll be swimming and soaking up the sun,” he said.
Fireworks: Virtual and real
Ending the night with a colourful sky and a large group of friends is how many imagine their traditional Canada Day. This year, students are planning on launching them from home or watching virtually.
Jordan Lau, a fifth-year kinesiology student at York University, said he is looking forward to setting off fireworks on his own.
“After work, I’m most likely going to go home and enjoy a cold one with some friends, and maybe shoot some fireworks with them,” he said.
The Canadian government is also hosting an augmented reality experience for mobile devices where people can watch fireworks virtually from home. On July 1 at 10 p.m., people can point their devices toward the sky to view a three minute 3-D firework show. During the same time, the city of Toronto is hosting a fifteen minute light show of the CN Tower live on CP24.
Rheanna Co, a third-year business student at Wilfrid Laurier University, said while the virtual show doesn’t quite live up to the real thing, she will be watching the festivities from home on TV with her family.
“Normally my family would all dress up and wear red and white clothes along with Canada Day accessories to attend parades,” she said.
Although it will be a different experience, fourth-year kinesiology student at Western University Shirley Liang said she is looking forward to celebrating virtually.
“I like the idea of gathering with my group of close friends, cracking open a bottle of beer, and watching fireworks [virtually] all in one night,” she said. “Cheers to Canada!”
Featured graphic by Sara Mizannojehdehi.
