Canada Day in West Carleton

(UPDATED June 29, 1 p.m. – the Diefenbunker is offering half-price admission, see the last four paragraphs)

WEST CARLETON – Canada Day is giving West Carletonites an early end to the work week this year as a handful of events return from COVID-banishment.

Festivities get underway in Constance Bay as the West Carleton Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 616 (377 Allbirch Rd.), brings back their annual Canada Day celebration starting at 3 p.m.

On Friday, July 1 starting at 3 p.m. the Legion will host a pig roast with live music by Wilson/Strong (Travis, Danny and Billy).

“Starts at 3 p.m. with all your favorite tunes by Wilson/Strong, break for dinner at 5 p.m., carry on the celebration until ???,” Branch 616 released in a statement.

Tickets are $20.

In Carp festivities get started at 2 p.m. with Vydon Acres native Dan Tait bringing his Okanogan, BC-based Bluegrass quartet Kentucky Eileen home to West Carleton and the Ridge Rock Brewing Co. (421 Donald B. Munro Dr.). Kentucky Eileen will play from 2 to 5 p.m. Ryan MacIntyre steps on the stage from 7 to 10 p.m.

Ridge Rock also promises outdoor games and face painting.

The Dunrobin Community Association (DCA) is also bringing back their Canada Day celebration, the first since 2018. Following the 2018 celebration, the Dunrobin community was devastated by a tornado in the fall of 2018. In 2019, damage still hadn’t been repaired to the state where the CDA could host Canada Day activities. In 2020 and 2021, almost no one was celebrating Canada Day due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is to let you know that Canada Day is back in Dunrobin,” DCA board member Loraine Madore released in a statement.

The event will start at 6 p.m. with a barbecue at the Dunrobin Community Centre (1151 Thomas A. Dolan Dr.).

“At 6:30 p.m., local dignitaries including Coun. Eli El-Chantiry will be invited to take part in a ceremonial cake-cutting and will have an opportunity to say a few words. There will be a live band during the evening and fireworks after sunset. The pandemic may not be over, but we hope to celebrate our nation’s birthday once again in Dunrobin.”

All day at the Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum, staff are helping fight inflation by cutting admission in half all day.

“We are open and offering 50 per cent off admission, with family-friendly activities,” Diefenbunker marketing and communications manager Jordan Collacut Tickets must be reserved in advance.”

As a piece of underground history built roughly 64 years ago, staff are still following stricter COVID-19 protocols than some may be accustom too recently on earth’s surface.

Entry will be timed every 30 minutes between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more information, or to reserve your tickets to visit the museum, click here.