Happy Canada Day!

Highlights of the celebration will include:

• Live Music
• Multicultural Performance
• Children’s Fun Zone
• Lion Dances
• Martial Arts Demonstrations
• Canada Day Birthday Cake

City services on July 1

The Toronto Transit Commission/TTC system will operate on a holiday schedule - similar to regular Sunday service. Subway and most routes will start at 6 a.m. on Friday, July 1.

The City's residential garbage, recycling and organics collection will proceed on the usual Friday schedule.

Toronto’s long-term care homes will remain open on Canada Day.

City child-care centres will be closed for the day.

All City emergency services and 24-hour operations will be provided as usual on Friday. For emergency response, call 911.

City offices will be closed for the Canada Day holiday. The City's 311 information service will be operating as usual. City website: http://www.toronto.ca

Events

South and central

• Hosted by East York Toronto Canada Day Corporation in co-operation with Toronto's Parks, Forestry and Recreation division, East York’s 54th Annual Canada Day Parade motorcade will start at 9 a.m. at the East York Town Centre (45 Overlea Blvd.). The motorcade will then make its way to Dieppe Park, where the marching bands will start at 10 a.m. The motorcade will then travel east to Stan Wadlow Park, at 888 Cosburn Ave., where the motorcade parade is scheduled to finish at noon.

• The celebrations at Stan Wadlow Park will begin at 11 a.m. and finish at 10 p.m. Residents will be able to enjoy bingo, live entertainment and a display of antique cars. The fireworks display will start at 10:15 p.m. and the park will close at 11 p.m. Admission is free.

•Canada Day at Fort York National Historic Site. Spend Canada's birthday and kick off the summer season with a full day of family fun at Fort York, 250 Fort York Blvd. Canadian musicians and artists will perform, among them Chris Mckhool's Fiddlefire, Kehewin Native Dance Theatre, and storytellers Shadow Puppetry and Bag of Trix, who will perform a break dance routine and present a workshop. There will also be a musket and artillery drill with fife-and-drum music. Visitors can enjoy tours, bring a picnic and learn the story of this national historic site. Admission is free. Hours of operation on Canada Day are from noon to 5 p.m.

•A Fort York Historic District Walking Tour.  Starting and ending at the canteen at Fort York National Historic Site, this special walking tour explores the evolution and history of Fort York and the nearby Lake Ontario shoreline. Learn about the origins of Fort York, the fortification of the harbour, local railway and road building, and the subsequent industrial and recreational development of this vital area. Admission is free and the tour will take place rain or shine, starting at 1 p.m. and finishing at 2:30 p.m.

• Canada Day Weekend at Spadina Museum.  If you have not seen Spadina Museum, 285 Spadina Rd., since its interior restoration, the long weekend will be a great time to visit. Enjoy a stroll through the historic gardens that are already in bloom. Take one or more of the new themed tours that highlight the 1920s and '30s. The schedule of tours is available at http://www.toronto.ca/culture/museums/spadina-tours.htm. Regular admission applies: Adults $7.62; Seniors and Youth 13 to 18, $4.76; Children 6 to 12, $3.81 plus tax. Hours of operation are from Friday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

• Canada Day at Todmorden Mills.  Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy an afternoon in the Don Valley to celebrate Canada Day at Todmorden Mills, located at the bottom of Pottery Road, east of the Bayview extension, west of Broadview Avenue. Tour the 19th century buildings, sample treats prepared in an historic kitchen and enjoy special activities for children. Admission is free. Hours of operation for Canada Day are from noon to 4 p.m. Due to road work, visit the website for special directions at http://www.toronto.ca/culture/museums/todmorden.htm.

East

• The 44th Annual Canada Day Parade begins at 4 p.m. west of the Scarborough Civic Centre on Brimley Road, ending at Lawrence Avenue East and Brimley Road at about 5:30 p.m. The parade will feature marching bands, drum and bugle corps, Miss Toronto, antique cars, clowns and floats. More information is available by calling 416-396-7566. Admission is free.

• The fireworks display at Milliken Park (Steeles Road and McCowan Road) will begin at dusk. For more information, call 416-396-7757. Admission is free.

• The Toronto Zoo is open this Canada Day long weekend. Families can cool off at Splash Island, take in one of the Zoo's amazing animal shows, visit the endangered African penguins - new to the Toronto Zoo - or check out the sharks at Stingray Bay Exhibit. More information is available at http://www.torontozoo.com.

• Cake it up Canada at Scarborough Museum.  Visit the Scarborough Museum, 1007 Brimley Rd., just north of Lawrence Avenue in Thomson Memorial Park, for cake and karaoke on Canada Day. Visitors will be able to sample historic treats and can consider entering a pie-eating contest. Families will also be able to share why they believe Canada is a great country at the Canadian Broadcast Speakers' Corner. Peameal bacon sandwiches and fresh strawberries with ice cream will be on sale as a fundraising activity for the Canadian Heritage Celebrate Canada Program. Hours of operation on Canada Day: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is by donation. Parking spaces will be limited.

North

•    A special event organized by the City of Toronto will be held at Mel Lastman Square (5100 Yonge St.) from 8 to 10:30 p.m. The event features live musical performances by Ray Robinson and nine-piece powerhouse King Sunshine, and will end with a spectacular fireworks display. Admission is free. More details are available at http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/canada/2011.

•  Canada Day at Gibson House Museum Celebrate Canada's birthday with a journey to the community of Willow Dale, circa 1851, at the Gibson House Museum, 5172 Yonge St. - just north of the North York Centre Subway Station. Experience a taste of the past with homemade ice cream, children’s activities in the Discovery Gallery and old-fashioned games on the lawn. Admission is "pay what you can." Gibson House Museum will be open on Canada Day from noon to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4:30 p.m.

West

• The Amesbury Canada Day Committee's 26th annual Canada Day event at Amesbury Park (1507 Lawrence Ave. W.) will start at 10 a.m. Activities include a pancake brunch, barbecue, live entertainment, marketplace, strongman’s competition and activities for children. A fireworks display will start at 10 p.m. Admission is free. More information is available at http://www.amesburycanadaday.ca.

• Canada Day Celebrations at Weston Lions Park (2125 Lawrence Ave. W.) will run from 5 to 10 p.m., concluding with a fireworks display. Festivities include live entertainment and children’s activities. More information is available by calling 416-392-4091.

• Dominion Day Celebration at Montgomery's Inn.  Celebrate Canada's birthday with tea and strawberry shortcake at Montgomery's Inn, 4709 Dundas St. W. at Islington Avenue. Admission is $10 plus tax and is first come, first served. Montgomery Inn will be open on Canada Day from 1 to 4 p.m.

Photo by Flickr User Tsar Kasim