Canada 150: Five ways to celebrate Canada in Edmonton

By Athena Raypold

With Canada turning 150 this July 1, Edmonton residents and all Canadians are eager to immerse themselves in activities that celebrate our country, our culture and our history. When you’re not taking advantage of the free National Parks Pass to discover and explore Elk Island, Jasper, Banff and Waterton, there’s plenty to do in and around Edmonton that will connect you with what it means to be Canadian. Here are six activities in Edmonton sure to reconnect you with Canada’s rich culture and offerings. [Photo credit: istockphoto.com/Solidago]

Ukrainian food is among our city’s most beloved comfort meals, but few Edmontonians know about Alberta’s rich Ukrainian heritage dating back to the 1800s. Like Fort Edmonton Park, the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village is an open-air museum that hosts restored historical buildings that house costumed interpreters who share the lives and stories of Canada’s Ukrainian pioneers.

The museum’s Galician Farmstead expansion is set to open later this year and shares the stories of Galician settlers (part of Ukraine that used to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire). Plus, the park is restoring the Stelmach House Learning Centre to share the challenges Alberta’s early pioneers faced in the prairies. The park is truly a village, transporting visitors to the 19th and early 20th century in Alberta through its buildings, food and activities. For Canada’s sesquicentennial, the museum is hosting a variety of events, workshops and feature days, including the “Where We Came From” exhibit that runs until September 4, 2017. This exhibit highlights the experiences of ordinary Alberta families, presented by Alberta’s youngest generation through their artwork displayed at the park.

Little known to some Edmontonians, the Legislative Assembly’s Visitor Centre is open 362 days a year and houses exhibits within the visitor centre itself and the Edmonton Federal Building. It’s free to visit and offers curated historical exhibits to learn and discover not just Alberta’s history, but also that of Canada and the world. From June 29 to October 1, the centre’s Borealis Gallery will host a special Canada 150 exhibit called “The Dream We Form By Being Together,” which will celebrate Canada’s history, boundaries, hardships and future.

To recognize Canada 150, the Art Gallery of Alberta is set to offer a unique exhibit entitled The Canadian History Project. For many, Canada Day evokes excitement, celebration and fanfare – particularly this year. But for some, such as our indigenous peoples, the birthday evokes traumatic memories of colonization and conflict. So, while this exhibit provides an opportunity share our country’s achievements and discovery, it also marks some of the country’s darker days. Including over 120 works of art, this exhibit combines the works of a vast and varied selection of artists and their diverse interpretations of Canada’s history – providing an artistic timeline that touch upon Canadian moments in history. Check their website for other exhibits and family programs.

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Discover more of Edmonton for Canada 150:

• Canada 150: Best spots to catch Canada Day fireworks in Edmonton
• Canada 150: Where to celebrate Canada's big day in Edmonton
• 10 best historic Edmonton attractions

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The city’s popular living museum located in the heart of Edmonton’s lush river valley, Fort Edmonton Park has often been a destination for family fun, home to numerous weddings and the location for Hollywood films like The Assassination of Jesse James. The park includes four distinct time periods complete with historical buildings, costumed interpreters and the opportunity to engage in activities such as preparing traditional foods, playing traditional games or exploring historical homes.

The park includes a 1920s midway, hotel, theatre and trolley as well as a steam train and countless authentic artifacts from Edmonton’s past. For Canada’s big birthday, the park is offering a 150 Summer Pass ($150) that gives unlimited, all-inclusive admission to the park for the summer (July 1 to September 4) for a group of four (two adults and two child/youth/senior admissions).

For those who want to get back to nature to celebrate Canada’s wilderness rather than civilization, Edmonton Canoe offers full day and half day canoe and kayaking trips on the North Saskatchewan River from May through to September. No experience is necessary and Edmonton Canoe’s team picks you up at your trip’s destination and drives you to the start along with your boat. Our city’s river valley is gorgeous from any vantage point, but its true beauty is experienced on the water.

Edmonton offers a fascinating and interesting combination of Canadian culture and country from galleries to river valleys, plus the outdoor museums that blend the two. There's no better time than Canada’s big 150 to discover or become reacquainted with Edmonton's history and natural beauty.