Celebrations, fireworks taking place in Ottawa despite air quality concerns
CTV
Canada Day celebrations are underway in Ottawa and across the country today, although some have been scaled back due to poor air quality.
Thousands of Canadians donned the national colours, offered rousing cheers for patriotic speeches and took in artistic and cultural exhibits across the country on Saturday at Canada Day festivities held from coast to coast.
Many of the festivities held in honour of the 156th anniversary of Canada's confederation marked a return to normalcy after years worth of cancellations prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. But some regions still had to celebrate without traditional trappings like fireworks, as ongoing wildfires and their resulting smoke prompted several municipalities to nix the displays due to poor visibility and compromised air quality.
The most prominent Canada Day celebrations unfolded in Ottawa, with the main entertainment taking place at LeBreton Flats just west of the downtown core.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon were on hand for the morning round of events at the site.
"People are coming to Canada to proudly call it their home and build their lives and our communities and our country, all together," Trudeau told a cheering crowd.
He said the country has withstood challenges, like wildfires and war in Europe, by showing compassion, engagement, openness and democracy.
"That's Canada's advantage in the world now more than ever," he said.
A developing low pressure skirting colder air in place across eastern parts of the country will bring snow, rain, and wind to the Maritimes on Thursday.
Toronto could see the first taste of winter weather this morning as a low-pressure system brings snow to the city on Wednesday morning.
Montreal's transit authority failed to properly consult with the public over its 'indefensible' plan to force an elderly couple out of their home to build a new ventilation station in Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie, a commission was told Tuesday evening.
In the oldest Chinatown in the entire country sits Loy Sing, a business that holds the title of longest continually run Chinese business in North America. It has now been in operation for 136 years and counting.
The Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan is recommending that the province improve its system of monitoring sales of farmland to foreign entities.
With seven months under their belt, Gather Local Market at River Landing continues to try new ideas to move their concept forward. The latest addition is helping small businesses get off the ground.
A Quebec man has been sentenced to prison after attempting to smuggle more than 1,000 forged documents into the country, including Canadian permanent resident cards and driver's licences.
An outspoken former Calgary bishop who was outspoken on several issues such as LGBTQ policy and school HPV vaccinations has died.
Revelations about a cheeky comment during a dinner meeting at president-elect Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort between Trump and Prime Justin Minister Trudeau last week are creating waves.
The Waterloo Regional Police Service has issued a public plea after three youths fell through the ice at a Cambridge pond.
A man was severely injured Tuesday morning when he leaped onto a polar bear to protect his wife from being mauled in the Far North community of Fort Severn.