After a six-year absence, North Vancouver’s Canada Day celebrations are coming back, and locals are being asked to help bring it all the way back.
The Celebrate North Vancouver Society will host the 2026 Canada Day (Stationary) Parade at Civic Plaza on July 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., marking the first public Canada Day celebration in Central Lonsdale since 2019. The free event is presented with support from the City of North Vancouver.
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According to the news release, the revival did not start with an established institution but with community members who believed the tradition was worth saving.
“For more than a century, the Canada Day Parade was part of North Vancouver’s civic identity. When the parade disappeared after 2019, many people assumed it might never return,” said Jeremy Cato, chair of the Celebrate North Vancouver Society.
This year’s format is stationary — performances and displays spread across Civic Plaza rather than a procession down Lonsdale Avenue. Cato says that it is by design, not default. The society has already set its sights on a full moving parade along Lonsdale in 2027.
“This year’s Stationary Parade is different by necessity, but not by spirit,” he said.
The July 1 program includes live music from the Hat Trick Band and Freddy Fuddpucker & His Rolling Clones, performances by RNB Dancers, a vintage car show, face painting, balloon artists, and participation by Army, Navy, and Air Cadets. Canada Day flags, pins, and temporary tattoos will also be on hand, alongside community and public safety displays.
According to the news release, organizers are coordinating with public safety partners to ensure the event is safe, welcoming, and accessible.
Celebrate North Vancouver Society is entirely volunteer-run and is calling on residents, businesses, performers, and community organizations to get involved — both for this year’s celebration and the full parade planned for 2027. It works to strengthen community connection and celebrate North Vancouver through public events and civic traditions.
