Katharine Casey wants everyone to sing the national anthem at 10 a.m. Pacific time on July 1, after getting 130,000 people to do it last year.<\/p>\n
The Fernwood woman who got 130,000 people singing in unison across the country on Canada Day last year is ready to do it all again.<\/p>\n
About a month before the big day in 2025, Katharine Casey figured she would get everyone she could to sing the national anthem at 10 a.m. Pacific time on July 1.<\/p>\n
The event she calls All Together, Canada attracted thousands of people from coast to coast to belt out O Canada at the same time.<\/p>\n
That includes Casey and about 50 of her neighbours, who did another Canadian thing afterward by treating themselves to Tim Hortons coffee and donuts.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor having 30 days to organize it, I thought we did pretty well,\u201d she said this week.<\/p>\n
This year, her goal is to get even more people to join in at 10 a.m. on July 1.<\/p>\n
That could happen, since word is spreading on both social media and conventional media.<\/p>\n
She has done media interviews locally as well as farther afield \u2014 including with a newspaper in St. Catherine\u2019s, Ont.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso the Department of Canadian Heritage is starting to pass the word about us, as well,\u201d Casey said.<\/p>\n
She said she hopes that anyone who sings the anthem will post #alltogethercanada on any social-media platform to tout the effort.<\/p>\n
Casey said she has always been a singer and has belonged to several choirs. She loves the way singing can connect people, including singing the national anthem at a sporting event.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we all sing O Canada at the beginning, I love that,\u201d she said. \u201cIt gives me goose pimples every time, and I just wanted the country to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also back for Canada Day is a nation-wide drumming event that has its roots in 2017, Canada\u2019s 150th birthday.<\/p>\n
It will return to its usual location on the legislature lawn at 11:30 a.m., said spokesperson Andrew Poon.<\/p>\n
Drumming events are also being held in more than 40 other communities across the country, including Nanaimo.<\/p>\n
The Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club, which is sponsoring the event, will hand out 1,000 rattle drums, and people are also encouraged to bring their own.<\/p>\n
Poon said they can also bang on pots and pans or just clap along. Organizers said they believe in \u201cthe power of percussion\u201d to unite people.<\/p>\n
Starting at 4:30 p.m., a stage set up in front of the legislature will offer a full schedule of performances, beginning with the Lekwungen Traditional Dancers.<\/p>\n
Also performing will be Linggo, Bucan Bucan, Covers in a Dangerous Times and DJ Boitano & Friends.<\/p>\n
At 5 p.m., a group of new Canadians will be acknowledged.<\/p>\n
The evening culminates at 10:20 p.m. with a fireworks display over the Inner Harbour.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a day to connect, celebrate and take in the energy of the city,\u201d said Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto.<\/p>\n
In the downtown area, buskers will take over Ship Point beginning at 11 a.m., along with an array of food trucks.<\/p>\n
Belleville Street will be shut down between Menzies and Government streets starting at about 6 a.m.<\/p>\n
Wharf Street and a section of Government will be closed during the evening, with more closures possible depending on the crowd size.<\/p>\n
Police issued a reminder that open alcohol use is prohibited in all public spaces.<\/p>\n
In Saanich, the Gorge Canada Day Picnic runs from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Gorge Road West, from Tillicum Road to Admirals Road. Gorge Road West will be closed from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.<\/p>\n
Highlights of Saanich events include a parade at 9 a.m. with everything from kids on bikes to fire engines, as well as canoe rides on the Gorge Waterway and art displays.<\/p>\n
Festivities in Sidney begin on Tuesday with live entertainment starting at 7:30 p.m. in Beacon Park, followed by fireworks at the waterfront at 10:15 p.m.<\/p>\n
Canada Day activities will include an 11:30 a.m. parade and the Slegg Build A Boat Challenge from noon to 5 p.m. at Beacon Park, with teams building handmade boats using limited materials.<\/p>\n
The boats will be launched from Glass Beach on the Sidney waterfront at 4:45 p.m., depending on the tide.<\/p>\n
Also on the Peninsula, a Coast Salish storytelling event is planned for Heritage Acres from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., along with food, family activities and mini-train rides.<\/p>\n
For more details on the national anthem singing project, visit alltogethercanada.ca<\/a>.<\/p>\n