Canada Day in London?

Hello all!

I'm considering heading down to London and the Maple Leaf pub to celebrate Canada Day this year. I'm feeling a little homesick and thought it would be a great way to chat with some other Canadians! Has anyone been there for the festivities before? Is it small or massive? Any advice would be appreciated!
Cheers!

I have not attended before, but I hear it is MASSIVE. Get there early and buy you beer from one of the shops rather than the pubs my collegues tell me.

I think it's too big to be my kinda thing, but a great cure for my homesickness was attending a Blue Rodeo concert last week. I was instantly transported to Canada (90% of the crowd were Canadians).

I'm sure others here have attended and give you all the details.

I've been to the last two, and not sure if I'll go again.

They're very well attended - but the problem is, we're penned into a single city block on a narrow street, which makes it ridiculously crowded, and often uncomfortable. They really should consider moving it to Hyde Park or somewhere with more space.

Your friend is wise, though - buy your beer from a store, and remain at the periphery of the crowd. If you want to buy booze from the Maple Leaf Pub, it takes a very unpleasant 5-10 minutes of pushing and elbowing your way through a crowded throng of fellow Canucks, and you'll probably spill half of it, anyway!

Not to mention their cheapest jug of beer is about 13 GPB!

But, it's always nice to get a taste of some Canadian beer

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canada-europa/united_kingdom/pdf/canadadaypressrelease.pdf

Canada Day London Canada House Trafalgar Square

info@canadadaylondon.com

Canada Day celebrations announced – 30 June in Trafalgar Square

London’s Trafalgar Square will be the site of this year’s Canada Day celebrations on Friday, June 30, 2006. The event, an initiative of the Canadian community in the UK and the Canadian High Commission, will bring together an all-day programme of Canadian entertainment and activities to suit every taste.

‘This is the first year that we are celebrating Canada Day in Trafalgar Square,’ said Canadian High Commissioner Mel Cappe. ‘We are delighted that the Mayor of London has given us this tremendous opportunity to showcase Canada here in the heart of this world city.’

The celebrations will kick off at 2:00pm, when Trafalgar Square will come alive with Canadian sights and sounds – including street hockey – the summer version of Canada’s national game. Canadian food, arts and crafts, talented street performers and tourism attractions will be showcased around the square.

‘Canada on Stage’ will begin at 5:00pm, with a diverse range of performers from across Canada, entertaining Canadians, Londoners, and visitors alike until 9:00pm that evening. The final artists’ line-up will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Canada Day in London celebrations will be filmed and broadcast at the national Canada Day party on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill and at other events across Canada.

Canada Day in Trafalgar Square is a free event.

For more information, contact:
Margaret Egan, Director
Canada Day London
Tel: 020 7258 6385 or 020 7439 6064.
Email: margaret.egan@canadadaylondon.com

Nice, I guess. but why do this on a weekday, when the proper Canuck expats who work/study are busy?

Are the normal weekend crowds at Trafalgar too busy to accommodate?

Dunno! Just sharing the info.
Maybe its for the *improper* expats.

Trafalgar Square is pretty busy on a normal weekend.

Sorry, cheers for the info. Wasn't trying to sound snarky. just thinking out loud, wondering the logic behind all of these events that are held each year.

Hmmm!

And I meant "proper expats" as opposed to tourists who would consume any event that was thrown their way.

Hey there
I'm from Ottawa and was thinking of heading to London too for Canada Day. Have been living in England since September and definitely miss all things Canadian! Have only met a couple of Cdns over here so far, so if anyone feels like meeting up for the celebrations, feel free to send me an email at celegg@hotmail.com.

~Christine

I'm definitely there for the Saturday, but I can't do the Friday! I agree, why on a Friday.it just limits the whole thing to people from London! I'm coming in from Bristol so it's a bit of a pain!

I have convinced some of my British friends to join for the day (I think one of them is even making a T-shirt that says "Wannabe Canadian" for the day! Bless.)

We will all have to find some way to meet up.I will be the girl aiming for the bar.it may be expensive but if they have Sleeman's.that's where I'll be!