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Activities for Canada Day in Ottawa have been suspended until further notice due to weather, as flooding closed some streets in the city and thunderstorms led to power outages.<\/p>\n
As heavy rain fell across the capital, the Canadian Heritage department posted online that activites at LeBreton Flats Park, Old Hull, Parliament Hill and in front of the Supreme Court of Canada have been paused as of 2:40 p.m. on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
“Due to weather conditions, the activities offered at all sites in Canada\u2019s Capital Region are suspended until further notice,” Canadian Heritage wrote, advising people to check back for updates. <\/p>\n
At LeBreton Flats Park and Parliament Hill, electronic billboards advised attendees to seek shelter. As heavy rain and winds lashed the area, people ran to vacate the park, video posted online showed. <\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1782942670_907_default.jpg\")
A seek shelter warning is seen on Parliament Hill during Canada Day festivities in Ottawa, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Keito Newman\/The Canadian Press)Snowbirds performance<\/p>\n
Around 4:30 p.m., the Canadian Forces Snowbirds posted online that they would not be able to fly over Parliament Hill as planned.<\/p>\n
“But we’re not giving up!” they wrote.<\/p>\n
“We\u2019ll be watching the skies closely and will attempt to get airborne between storm fronts to overfly the National Capital Region. We can\u2019t provide specific times, but you can track us in real time \u2014 follow SNBD1 on your favourite flight tracking app to see when we\u2019re in the air.” <\/p>\n
This was already set to be the last Canada Day performance for the iconic aerobatic show, as its aging fleet is being grounded<\/a>.<\/p>\n Flooding has closed Woodroffe Avenue between Knoxdale Road and Norice Street, the Ottawa Police posted online.<\/p>\n Highway 417, which had been closed to westbound traffic at Pinecrest Avenue, had reopened at 5:10 p.m., according to<\/a> the Ontario Provincial Police.<\/p>\n “Heavy rainfall is causing localized flooding across Ottawa, resulting in hazardous driving conditions and road closures in some areas,” the police said, advising against “unnecessary travel until conditions improve.” <\/p>\n Hydro Ottawa has also reported localized power outages across the city, due to “inclement weather and thunderstorms,” affecting just over 26,00 customers as of 5:00 p.m. The utility’s outage map gives more information.<\/a><\/p>\n “Crews have been deployed to assess damage and restore power where it is safe to do so,” it wrote.<\/p>\n Ottawa Police and the utility reminded the public to treat disabled traffic lights as four-way stops. <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1782942671_761_default.jpg\")
Torrential rain was limiting visibility on Sparks Street in Ottawa on Canada Day, 2026. (Gabrielle Huston\/CBC)Flooding<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1782942672_200_default.jpg\")
Flooding is seen on Highway 417 westbound at Holly Acres Road. (Ontario Provincial Police\/X)<\/p>\n