Mayor Vrbanovic’s statement on Canada Day 2023

Canada Day is a time when many of us pause to celebrate all that our country has become more than 150 years after Confederation. It’s a time to remember the values we aspire to as a country, while remembering the past and committing to working together for a brighter future.

The freedoms we enjoy in Canada make our home a great country, and a destination for people from all over the world who strive for a better life for themselves and their families.

Today, the City of Kitchener is excited to host in-person, family-friendly celebrations on Gaukel Block from 4 – 7 p.m. and Carl Zehr Square at City Hall from 6 – 11 p.m.

The awesome line-up of live music at City Hall features Steve Lee Olsen, Robyn Ottolini, Owen Riegling and Amanda Kind. Let’s celebrate together as a community. Come out today to reconnect with friends, family, and neighbours, and stay until dusk to cap off the evening with a beautiful fireworks display.

It's important to remember that Canada Day means different things to different people. For those who are celebrating, Canada Day presents an opportunity to come together with friends and neighbours, to think about what it means to be Canadian; to understand our country’s Indigenous roots; and to appreciate our community’s cultural diversity.

While celebrating our country, please also consider learning more about reconciliation efforts, donating to an Indigenous organization or supporting an Indigenous artist or business.

From all of us on City Council and at the City of Kitchener – Happy Canada Day! I hope to see many of you at Carl Zehr Square this evening as we celebrate the good that exists in our country and look to the future with hope, optimism and a shared desire to build a great city for everyone, together!

Mayor Berry Vrbanovic
On behalf of the City of Kitchener