Canada Day in Fernie

A day to celebrate and reflect on Canada's history, heritage and community with family friendly activities and entertainment centred around City Hall & 2nd Avenue. 

Canada Day has always been a popular day for Fernie to gather and celebrate friendship and fun.

New for 2025: Service groups in Fernie -  Lions Club, Rotary Club, Fernie Elks Lodge, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #36 and 3300 Club, are teaming up with the City of Fernie and the Ktunaxa Nation to host a community-centred celebration of Canada Day.

Fernie is located within ?amak?is Ktunaxa and will honour this as part of the celebrations. 

Please note that due to high fire risk in the summer months, Fernie does not have a fireworks display for Canada Day. 

SCHEDULE:

All events at Fernie City Hall Grounds, 501 3rd Ave, except where noted

8 - 10 AM
- Pancake Breakfast @ Fernie Senior’s Centre (across from City Hall)
- Suggested $5 donation

From 9 AM
- Community Safety Hub on 2nd Ave

9:30 AM
- Youth Singers - Charley May, Lily Earl, Peri De Marchi & Others
- Welcome from Mayor Nic Milligan
- Land Acknowledgement & Elder Prayer
- Flag Song Presented by Kyle Shottana
- Ktunaxa Flag Raising by Garrett Gravelle
- Singing of the National Anthem ‘Oh Canada’ with Fernie Community Choir
- Canadian Flag Raising

10 AM 
- Decorated Bike Parade Assembles at Fernie Senior's Centre for 10:30 AM Departure

10 AM - 4 PM
- Elk Valley Cruisers Show n' Shine on 2nd Ave

From 10:30 AM
- Fernie Mountain Market (until 2 PM)
- Food Trucks Open
- CBAL Portrait Gallery (until 6 PM)

From 11:30 AM
- Yaq?it ?a·knuq?i ‘it on the Main Stage
- Canada Day Cupcakes, Bubbles & Chalk provided by Eldho's Your Independent Grocer
- Kids Craft Tent with Fernie Child Care Society (until 4 PM)
- Family Game Zone with Elk Valley Gymnastics on 2nd Ave (until 6 PM)
- Bouncy Castles (until 6 PM)

From 12 PM
- Trena & The Kimberley Crew on the Main Stage
- Face Painting (until 3 PM)
- Glitter Tattoos & Balloon Twisting with Freckles Fabulous Faces (until 3 PM)
- Henna & Temporary Tattoos (until 3 PM) 
- Dunk Tank on 2nd/6th (until 4 PM)

From 12:30 PM
- Traditional Games (until 3 PM) 
- Ktunaxa Tipi Language Lesson (until 3 PM)
- Drumming Experience (until 2:30 PM)
 - DJ Steel Orca between sets on the Main Stage

1 - 4 PM
- Free Swim at Fernie Aquatic Centre

1:15 PM
 - The Reluctants on the Main Stage

2:30 PM
- The Relief Committee on the Main Stage

3:45 PM
- The Hip Flexers on the Main Stage

5 PM
- Shelley Lynch on the Main Stage

ABOUT CANADA DAY

Canada Day is celebrated annually on July 1st and is based on the anniversary of Canadian Confederation on July 1, 1867 which brought together the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. 2025 marks the 158th anniversary of that date. British Columbia joined the confederation in 1871.

The first inhabitants of North America are believed to have first migrated across the Bering Strait into the area now known as Yukon at least 14,000 years ago. Archeological sites in northern Yukon are the oldest known sites of human habitation in Canada. Indigenous Canadians include First Nations, Inuit and Metis people. There are over 640 First Nations governments and bands across Canada and many more Metis and Inuit councils and societies. 

Canada is undergoing a period of reconciliation to understand and correct the injustices of the past and create a better future for all Canadians.