Article content

So vast were the crowds converging on Parliament Hill Saturday that you could be forgiven for thinking it was the only place around celebrating the country’s 150th anniversary.

But, in fact, there were many Canada 150 gatherings scattered throughout the perimeter, each offering slightly different variations on the theme.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or The other Canada Day: Communities celebrate away from the Hill Back to video

Some, such as the early afternoon, family oriented affair organized by the Beacon Hill Community Association, stressed the convenience of celebrating without having to venture to the Hill.

Others, including a gathering of Muslims in Cumberland, convened early enough to allow participants time to take in the Hill as well.

The region’s larger neighbourhoods offered all-day entertainment designed to entice residents to celebrate close to home. In Kanata, Canadian Juno Award-winning rock band Finger Eleven was one of several acts while notable Ottawa soul artist Rebecca Noelle was scheduled to take the stage in Barrhaven. By late afternoon, Barrhaven’s Clarke Fields Park was threatening to transform into a mud bowl as thousands of local residents circulated around carnival rides that included a ferris wheel.