/ #canada day #weekly 

OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: June 26-July 2, 2014

[ Canada Day Fireworks

](https://www.flickr.com/photos/caringforapathy/5894576006)

Canada Day Fireworks. Photo by Christopher Dunn from the OttawaStart Flickr Group.

_ Here’s our crowdsourced list of the best events in Ottawa this week. _

** Tuesday, July 1: Canada Day **

This page has info about the big events downtown, plus celebrations all around Ottawa in Kanata, Barrhaven, Orleans, etc. Ottawa is the headquarters for Canada’s 147th birthday celebration on July 1, 2014. There are big events downtown including at Parliament Hill, Major’s Hill Park, and Jacques-Cartier Park, and there are big neighbourhood celebrations as well in Kanata, Barrhaven, Orleans, Almonte and more. Check out OttawaStart’s Canada Day Guide for events, what’s open and closed, fireworks info and more.

**

** ** Thursday June 26-29: RCMP Sunset Ceremonies **

Members of the nation’s famed Royal Canadian Mounted Police don their iconic red uniforms and join with a team of highly trained equines for this display of skill and agility. Riders and their horses execute a series of intricate maneuvers and cavalry drills, all choreographed to music. Expect plenty of Canuck pride and an incredible display of athletic skill at this performance. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. June 25 to 29.. Admission and parking are free, however, you are encouraged to donate on site to the RCMP Foundation. The Foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and your contributions help support Canada’s Youth at Risk Programs.

_

Jean Labelle _

**

** ** Thursday, June 26: An Evening with Al Pacino **

In one of only three dates - An Evening with Al Pacino promises to be a special night! “The Academy Award winner, whose resume includes iconic films like “The Godfather” trilogy, “Scarface,” “Dog Day Afternoon” and “Serpico,” is coming to the NAC on Thursday to chat with his fans about his career, his films and his thoughts on acting and directing.”

_

Laura Gauthier _

**

** ** Friday-Sunday, June 27-29: Random Hack of Kindness **

Want to hack for good? Random Hacks of Kindness is a global movement focused on Hacking for Humanity. Join volunteers, designers, developers, NGOs workers and data nerds to work on solutions for local organizations such as OXFAM, Code For Kids, ArtEngine and others! Hack their problems and contribute your knowledge right back into the community.

_

Tanya Snook , Spydergrrl _

**

** ** Saturday, June 28: Community Cup **

The Community Cup helps newcomers to Canada make connections, and it banishes the isolation that many feel on coming to a new country. The Community Cup is a celebration of multiculturalism: everyone is welcome. We have events for soccer players and non-soccer players alike, for the young and old, for the new and the established alike. Looking for a team to join? Stony Monday Riot (a supporter’s group for the Ottawa Fury) are still taking players!

_

Laura Gauthier _

**

** ** Saturday, June 28: Art Battle Ottawa Regional Finals **

For the art aficionados, the Art Battle Ottawa Regional Finals are being held this Saturday, June 28 at the Ottawa Convention Centre. This unique concept organized across Canadian cities, brings 12 local painters together for a live painting competition. The winner of the Ottawa Finals will compete in the 2014 National Championship happening in Toronto on July 26.

_ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _

**

** ** Saturday, June 28: Peter Woods and Brian Browne House Concert in Almonte ** [

](http://ottawajazzscene.ca/upcoming-shows/8264-peter-woods-and-brian-browne-house-concert-in-almonte?cxn=os&cxk=pwbb) Pianist Brian Browne is one of the mainstays of the Ottawa jazz scene, widely popular here and elsewhere for his driving rhythms and sensitive interpretations of new and old standards. Saxophonist Peter Woods is a United Church minister who also regularly plays jazz around town. Together they released a CD called “Honest Company” last year, which showed off their strong musical chemistry. They’re playing a JazzN house concert in the Mississippi Mills/Almonte area Saturday evening: open to all, but you must preregister (and you might want to do that sooner rather than find it sold out).

_

Alayne McGregor , OttawaJazzScene.ca _

**

** ** Saturday, June 28: Latin Sparks ** The International convenes latin lovers to Latin Sparks this Saturday, June 28. Taking place outdoors along Sparks Street, this seasonal block party promises to offer a night of dancing under the stars with complimentary workshops, latin music, latin cuisine and live percussionists and entertainment.

_ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _

** Tuesday, July 1: Canada Day Tea **

Visit the Billings Estate National Historic Site (2100 Cabot Street) on Canada Day and mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War with a Triple Entente Three-Tier tea service and the Central Powers Platter featuring foods from each side of the war. Check out their new exhibit, _ In it Together: Our City during The Great War _ , and learn about uniforms and fashion that were popular during the War by experimenting with their large-scale paper dolls. Admission to the museum is free with tea room purchase.

_

Gordon Dewis _

**

** ** June 24 to August 23: Changing the Guard on Parliament Hill **

See a Canadian tradition at its most colourful! The Ceremonial Guard brings stirring military drills and music to Parliament Hill. Daily at 10:00am on Parliament Hill. And it’s free.

_ – Sara-Lynne Levine, Macaroni Kid Ottawa _

**

** ** All summer long, June-August: Beaches, pools and splash pads **

Celebrate summer, enjoy a mini-holiday or cool down at one of Ottawa’s four public beaches, 56 wading pools and almost 100 splash pads, or Gatineau’s three public beaches, 10 or so wading pools and more than 30 splash pads. They’re open, they’re free and they’re fun.

_

Denise Deby , Green Living Ottawa _

_ Have a great week! _

** See also: ** Ottawa Events Guide

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