2026 Canada Day celebrations at Centre de la nature in Laval
Laval residents gathered at Centre de la nature on July 1 to celebrate Canada Day with family activities, live entertainment and one of the day’s most emotional moments, a Canadian citizenship ceremony welcoming new citizens from 16 different countries.
The festivities began with the raising of the Canadian flag, followed by the national anthem at 12:50 p.m. The citizenship ceremony started shortly afterward, with many new Canadians taking the stage to officially receive their citizenship in front of family members, friends and visitors.
Several elected officials attended the ceremony, including Mille-Îles MNA Virginie Dufour, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin MP Carlos Leitão, Laval-Les Îles MP Fayçal El-Khoury, Alfred-Pellan MP Angelo Iacono and Saint-Vincent-de-Paul city councillor Annick Senghor.
Later in the afternoon, elected officials and official representatives for the celebration joined the traditional Canada Day cake-cutting ceremony. The cake was then shared with visitors a few moments later, along with cupcakes distributed to the public.
Activities for all ages
Throughout the day, families were able to enjoy a wide range of activities across the park.
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Children took part in inflatable games, while Soccer Laval hosted a soccer zone featuring skill challenges and friendly games designed for young participants. Visitors could also enjoy food trucks, temporary Canada-themed tattoos, Canadian flags and the Centre de la nature’s regular attractions.
Citizenship ceremony highlights the celebration
For many attendees, the citizenship ceremony was the highlight of the day.
“What a wonderful day at Centre de la nature! In addition to celebrating Canada Day, I had the privilege of attending the citizenship ceremony for new Canadian citizens from 16 different countries. It was a truly touching moment,” Mille-Îles MNA Virginie Dufour wrote on social media following the event.
Marc-Aurèle-Fortin MP Carlos Leitão also marked the occasion, writing: “From coast to coast, Happy Canada Day to all Canadians!”
The annual celebration once again combined civic tradition with family-friendly entertainment, offering residents an opportunity to celebrate Canada’s 159th anniversary while welcoming the country’s newest citizens.
