Harper Government Unveils Lineup for Canada Day 2013 Celebrations on Parliament Hill

OTTAWA, May 29, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, and Russell Mills, Chair of the National Capital Commission (NCC), invited all Canadians to participate in the 2013 Canada Day celebrations and announced the program for the Noon and Evening shows on Parliament Hill.

"On July 1^st, all Canadians are invited to celebrate Canada's 146^th birthday on Parliament Hill," said Minister Moore. "This year's Canada Day Noon show will feature an amazing lineup of talented Canadian performers such as Carly Rae Jepsen and special guests including Chris Hadfield. As we move closer to the 150^th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, Canada Day is another opportunity to show your pride and celebrate the many things that make Canada great."

"The NCC is pleased to present the evening show on Parliament Hill, festivities on Canada Day official sites and the spectacular fireworks display as Canadians gather in the Capital for the biggest Canada Day celebrations in the country," said Russell Mills, Chair of the NCC. "The NCC wishes to acknowledge the valuable support of private partners, federal institutions, collaborators and our more than 500 volunteers for their involvement in making the Capital a meeting place that communicates Canada to Canadians."

Parliament Hill
On July 1^st, Parliament Hill will be the setting for Canada Day celebrations. Thousands of Canadians will converge on the Hill to mark their country's birthday. In the morning, they will be able to attend the Peace Tower carillon concert at 9:00 a.m., the traditional flag-raising ceremony at 9:30 a.m., and the Changing of the Guard at 10:00 a.m.

Canada Day Noon Show
The Noon Show will include a flypast of CF-18 fighter jets and the Snowbirds Demonstration Team. The show will be hosted by Measha Brueggergosman, with special guest Hélène Campbell, and will feature:

• Carly Rae Jepsen, British Columbia — Pop, dance
• Marie-Mai, Quebec — Pop rock
• Metric, Ontario — Indie rock
• Terri Clark, Alberta — Country
• Karim Ouellet, Quebec — Pop
• Jennifer Gillis, British Columbia — Musical theatre
• A special performance by Commander Chris Hadfield

The Noon Show is a presentation of the Department of Canadian Heritage. It will be broadcast live on CBC, CBC News Network, Radio-Canada, RDI and CPAC, and rebroadcast on their websites.

For more information about the Canada Day Noon Show, visit the Canadian Heritage website at www.pch.gc.ca/canadaday.

Afternoon Program on the East and West Lawns
From 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., catch a glimpse of Canada's cultural mosaic in an exhilarating, live music experience.

Canada Day Evening Show
The evening show will highlight the 300^th anniversary of Louisburg and the 400^th anniversary of Champlain's passage to what is now the Capital Region. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., Parliament Hill will host the largest Canada Day show in the country. Canadian artists will give performances to celebrate the country's 146^th birthday and important milestones in Canada's history. Hosted by Anne-Marie Whithenshaw, the Evening Show will showcase:

• Carly Rae Jepsen, British Columbia — Pop, dance
• Sylvain Cossette, Quebec — Pop
• Metric, Ontario — Indie rock
• Terri Clark, Alberta — Country
• Radio Radio, Nova Scotia — Electro, hip hop
• Lucie Idlout, Nunavut — Rock
• Karim Ouellet, Quebec — Pop
• DJ Abeille, Quebec — Pop
• A special performance by Commander Chris Hadfield

The Evening Show is presented by the NCC and sponsored by Chicken Farmers of Canada, Manulife Financial^TM and President's Choice^®. A one-hour edition of the evening show will be televised on CBC and Radio-Canada, with special programs on ARTV. The show will also be broadcast live on CBC Radio 2, Radio Canada's Espace musique, CBC.ca and radio-canada.ca.

For more information on all the Canada Day celebrations in the National Capital Region and on-site access for persons with limited mobility, members of the public can call the NCC at 613-239-5000; 1-800-465-1867; 613-239-5090 (TDD/TTY); or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TDD/TTY). The public can also visit www.canadaday.gc.ca. Canada Day in the Capital is on Twitter @canadadaycap and Facebook.

SOURCE: Canadian Heritage