Canada Day at The Forks: A Celebration of Community and Reconciliation

Get ready for a fun-filled Canada Day at The Forks! This year’s event promises a day packed with free activities designed for families and focused on building community spirit and reconciliation.

New Partnerships Bring Indigenous Culture to the Forefront

This year, Canada Day at The Forks welcomes new partners, 2Spirit Manitoba and Tunngasugit Inuit Resource Centre. They’ll be bringing vibrant Indigenous cultural performances and programming to the event, offering a chance to learn and celebrate.

Classic Entertainment and Exciting Additions

Alongside the new offerings, Canada Day at The Forks wouldn’t be complete without some returning favorites. Get ready for thrilling dance battles with GeNie, witness impressive skateboarding demos and workshops led by Graffiti Gallery and Pitikwé, and enjoy live music by local artists curated by Manitoba Music. Basketball fans won’t be disappointed either – a three-day tournament hosted by Basketball Manitoba culminates on July 1st with the championship game, a slam dunk competition, and special guest appearances by the Winnipeg Sea Bears.

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Celebrating Canada Through Reconciliation

Canada Day at The Forks reflects The Forks’ ongoing commitment to celebrating Canada’s rich heritage through a lens of reconciliation. “We strive to ensure our community is reflected in what we offer here at The Forks,” says Sara Stasiuk, CEO of The Forks North Portage. “This year’s Canada Day at The Forks achieves exactly that – it’s an event truly built by and for the community.”

All-Day Fun and Easy Access

All activities at Canada Day at The Forks will run from 11 am to 9 pm throughout the site. The event is free to attend, and there’s a convenient Canada Day shuttle running between The Forks and Assiniboine Park from 11 am to 6 pm. More details about the shuttle will be available soon.

Canada Day at The Forks Schedule (July 1st)

Here’s a breakdown of the exciting activities happening throughout Canada Day at The Forks! This schedule is divided by location for your convenience.

Event Space (Second Floor of The Forks Market)

(partnered with 2Spirit Manitoba and Tunngasugit Inuit Resource Centre)

● 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Presentation by 2Spirit Manitoba

● 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Throat Singing Performance by Tunngasugit Inuit Resource Centre

● 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Presentation by 2Spirit Manitoba

● 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Hand Drumming Workshop with Elder Barb Neepinak

● 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Interactive Inuit Games with Tunngasugit Inuit Resource Centre

● 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Hand Drumming Workshop with Elder Barb Neepinak

Market Bridge (Above Fools and Horses)

(partnered with Manitoba Music, 2Spirit Manitoba, and Tunngasugit Inuit Resource Centre)

● 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Darryl Buck

● 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: 2Spirit Manitoba

● 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Interactive Inuit Games with Tunngasugit Inuit Resource Centre

● 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Fenom

● 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: 2Spirit Manitoba

● 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Throat Singing Performance by Tunngasugit Inuit Resource Centre

The Forks Parkade (5rd floor)

(partnered with GeNie BOSS Dance Company)

● 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM: DJ Fuzzy Paws

● 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: DJ MONI

● 12:00 PM – 12:15 PM: Punjabi Dance Academy

● 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM: Ben Tamana

● 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM: Drum Café

● 1:45 PM – 2:00 PM: Afro Dance Workshop with BOMA

● 2:00 PM – 2:10 PM: Polynesian Dance Group

● 2:10 PM – 2:30 PM: Indian Dance Workshop with SWI Indian Dance Group

● 2:30 PM – 2:40 PM: Kelly Chinchilla and Daughter

● 2:40 PM – 5:00 PM: Dance Battle featuring DJ Majuice, DJ Q, Drop In Dance K-pop Crew, Dynamite Dance Crew, and Bollywood Dance Group

Forks Market Parking Lot

(partnered with Basketball Manitoba)

Main Court:

● 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM: Youth Tournament Championship Game

● 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Shooting Competition

● 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Wheelchair Basketball Demonstration and Game

● 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Dunk Contest

● 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Sea Bears Activation

● 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Adult Championship Game

Secondary Court:

● 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Open Court with DJs and Sea Bears Activations

The Forks Parkade (Third Floor)

(partnered with Pitikwé Skatepark and Graffiti Gallery)

Throughout the day, enjoy DJ music, grip tape painting workshops, and a community mural project.

● 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Skateboarding Lessons

● 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Open Session

● 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Best Skateboarding Trick Contest

Event Space (Second Floor of The Forks Market)

(partnered with Manitoba Music)

● 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Folkroots Bhangra Academy

● 5:50 PM – 6:30 PM: Victoria Turko

● 6:40 PM – 7:15 PM: Alex Maher

● 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Mattmac

● 8:30 PM – 9:00 PM: Kelly Bado

Please note: This event description is for informational purposes only. Winnipeg for Free is not associated with The Forks in any manner. Confirm program details and availability directly with The Forks.