#4 Festival & Parade (up from #6)
About 350,000 gathered for the party on Parliament Hill this year, which included, for the first time, a musical fireworks show with 2,000 aerial shells. Chicken Farmers of Canada was the national sponsor. A banner year is expected in 2017, when Canada celebrates its 150th birthday. Next: July 1, 2017
Canada celebrates its 150th birthday in 2017, and event planners are fully on board for the festivities. From the massive Canada Day party planned for Ottawa to Toronto’s festival of beer, the nation’s food, music, and culture will be proudly promoted next year.
One Canadian who has been lending her political star power to events over the past year—and will likely continue to do so—is Sophie Trudeau, wife of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and pal of U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama. Whether she’s presenting to a prize-winner at the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards or chairing the National Arts Centre Gala, the fun and fashionable first lady always makes a splash. Another Canuck who keeps gaining in popularity is Toronto’s Drake. His OVO Fest debuted at number three in the Music category after moving to the Air Canada Centre in 2016 and featuring surprise guests Kanye West and Rihanna.
One major loss this year was Toronto Fashion Week, which its sponsors pulled the plug on in July. While the country’s fashionistas look for a replacement, Toronto Men’s Fashion Week has stepped up to fill the gap in the industry.
So, get ready for a year of red, white, and maple, and place your bets now on who will have the most creative way to fête a country of dichotomies, prizing both originality and tradition, cities and countryside, hot summers and frigid winters.
As with all lists, this one is subjective. To choose and rank the annual events on this list, we look at several factors, including economic impact, buzz, innovation, and an event's prominence within the communities it intends to serve.
