Results tagged “canadaday”

Every weekday morning, bright and early, we feature a photo (or two) from a photographer in the Torontoist Flickr Pool. It's our way of giving the many excellent photographers in our pool the attention that they deserve.

Scientists and doctors have long warned the public about the dangers of staying out in the sun for too long. Relaxing as sunbathing is, the effects of forgetting to slap on the sunscreen may be felt long afterwards. One sun-worshipper at Hanlan's Point beach discovered the worst-case scenario yesterday, staying out so long that they fused with the sand. Despite this mishap, their patriotic fervour remained undimmed.

Happy Canada Day! Today is the one day of the year where Torontonians pretend that their city isn't the best one in the country, and happily express national pride and forget that the rest of the country isn't particularly fond of them because the rest of the country is totally jealous. Hooray! Sure, there are fireworks tonight pretty much everywhere, and a few bands that aren't Final Fantasy or Feist are playing for free at the Harbourfront Centre later, but here are a few things you can do today that don't require you to actually leave the computer you're currently reading this on.

Happy Canada Day! There is lots of stuff going on around town, including fireworks tonight at Ashbridges Bay, Ontario Place, Downsview Park, and Mel Lastman Square, where Mel Lastman will be fired into space on a giant skyrocket.

Every Saturday morning, Historicist looks back at the events, places, and characters—good and bad—that have shaped Toronto into the city we know today.

Weekly indie institution Wavelength started in 1999, setting up shop at Ted's Wrecking Yard, then bouncing between venues until landing at its current home, Sneaky Dee's, in 2002. Past performers read like a who's-who of home grown indie music: Great Lake Swimmers, The Bicycles, Cadence Weapon, Julie Doiron, Peaches, Final Fantasy, Feist—and the list goes on.

Photo by Carrie Musgrave.

Yesterday was Canada Day. Well, actually, technically it wasn't because Canada Day is officially celebrated on the second of July whenever the first of July falls on a Sunday. But that sort of thing only matters to the people who insist that the new millennium started in 2001 rather than 2000, and who wants to be one of those people?

Today is the First Nations National Day of Action. According to organizers The Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the event is a chance for all Canadians to call for "immediate action to improve [aboriginal peoples'] quality of life." Basically, bands from across the country are demanding the government work with First Nations to gain control of the programs, services and decisions that affect their lives. At noon, there will be a peaceful demonstration supporting the National Day of Action. Then the group will march from King's College Circle to Queen's Park, where participants can to enjoy music, food (mmm...bannock), dance, and inspirational words until 5 p.m. Sounds pretty sweetgrass to us.

Photo by jonathanhoustonhill.

Photo by Carrie Musgrave.

This year, the city that moves on Canada Day quite sensibly threw what may be the country's best indie culture fest over Thanksgiving weekend. Now in its fifth year, Pop Montreal took over the indie city from the 4th to the 8th like a clever NXnE that's actually fun for bands and the public to go to.

The Globe reports that drownings over the Canada Day long weekend were actually down this year. Only three were reported, sadly one of them was an eight-year old boy. In 2005, 16 people drowned over the July long weekend.

For those of you who can't escape the city this Canada Day weekend, you could always head down to the lake where the Harbourfront is holding its Power of Place festival. It's a bit of a hodgepodge weekend with everything from Jason Collett, the Dears (pictured) and fireworks on Saturday night to the Refugee All Stars and blind musicians and Eye cover subjects Amadou and Mariam Sunday. The weekend's musical offerings wrap up with local Cuban group Son Ache and UK/Cuban fusion group Ska Cubano on Monday. If music isn't your thing there are also plenty of film, art, and dance offerings.

We’re all still busy basking in the warm glow of the revelation that the Royal, at least, will live again, and we know we mentioned it last week, but Superman Returns has been getting good enough word of mouth it might actually be worth checking out. Eye’s Jason Anderson claims “it's the rare blockbuster that lives up to advance hype”, but thankfully, good old trustworthy John Harkness of NOW gives it a kicking because the cast are too young and “here's still the big problem with all Superman stories, which is that he's kind of dull”.

Two teams from the Toronto Kickball league will be heading down to NYC for the Brooklyn Kickball Invitational over the Canada Day long weekend and we wish the teams going lots of luck.

Eli Singer, of Singer.TO, signs on to a lifetime of hyperlinks and inspired comments from Billonlogan today, as we launch his weekly feature, Tech Tune-Up. Today, Flickry photographers. Tomorrow, the world:

Just before we all do what we are going to do on Canada Day weekend, consider the following links:

Rumour has it the Barenaked Ladies, Jann Arden, Our Lady Peace, and Billy Talent are on board, but what about these potential additions: