Canada Day in Trafalgar Square- Your thoughts

HIya.

I must say I was rather disappointed about the event, there was no feeling of festivity at all and it was a tad boring.

I was at Blue Rodeo/ Corb Lund concert in London a few weeks back and I was instantly trasnported "home" for those three hours- it was wonderful! I guess thats what I was expecting.

I was thinking that I'd gather some feedback from those who attended and forward to the organizers in hopes of making next years event better.

I do appreciate their effort and know it was their first try at organizing this.

Please leave your comments here or send them an email at info@canadadaylondon.com.

Happy Canada Day!

Was the event initially aimed at British/Europeans in the afternoon, and then aimed at Canadians in the evening? There were heaps of booths such as "Emigrate Canada" and "Study Canada" in the afternoon that were clearly not meant for Canadian consumption.

I had to leave around 5:15pm, so I didn't see what happened in the evening. But from being there in the morning, it was clearly a tourism/commercialism campaign aimed at attracting non-Canadians to Canada.

Definitely not a replacement for the Maple Leaf Pub party by any means!

Looking forward to later today at Hyde Park, though. I should be arriving around 7:00 or 7:30pm.

See ya there!

I turned up about 7 pm or so and it was alright. The bands were on stage doing their thing and there was a big enough crowd. I'm sure there were some honorary Canadians that were just passing through and took advantage of a free concert. There was a bit in the Metro about it, actually.

Didn't even look at any of the booths, can't see how many of us Canucks would be interested in that sort of thing.

Bring back the street party, I say! Was ten times better, met ten times more people, etc.

I'll be popping by Hyde Park around 6 or 6:30 pm. See y'all there.

I was there just for the street hockey tournament, which was alot of good fun.

In spite of my team being crushed in our game.

I have to say I was dissapointed there were no beer or drink tents, as we had to leave the square to get a drink, and we thought about going back to check out the booths, but my wife had notice what has already been commented on, that they were aimed at non-Canucks.

I wasn't too bothered to stay for the bands as I didn't recognise any of them, but the sound check sounded ok.

I hope next year they can get round the H&S regs and let us play hockey with a proper street ball as a tennis ball is pants, but that-s just my opinion.

Have fun in Hyde Park, we are having our annual BBQ up in Sawtry, and the flags are up an flying in front of our house, (Manitoba and Canada).

Scootter

I was there about 4pm and went to some of the booths to get the flags and lapel pins. Also to get info at the Network Canada booth. Agreed- the rest of the booths were aimed at non-Canadians.

When they announced there was going to be "Canadian" food, I was picturing hot dogs and a booth for poutine (I would have killed for poutine!), you know, like a fair or street festival. Although you had to leave to get a drink, there didn't seem to be any shortage of alcohol in the square.

I didn't know any of the bands either. Maybe it would make more sense to have one big name Canadian entertainer to draw in the crowds? They could have also piped in music by Canadian acts before the live entertainment started.

Where was the street hockey? I saw lots of people with sticks, but didn't see where the games where.

I went back around 8 and there were quite a few people there, but I have to say, they all looked bored. We left again after 20 minutes.

I was there at about 4:30, did a lap, and left. I agree that one well known band to draw the crowds would have been far better than a bunch of people we've never heard of - no matter how culturally diverse or good they might have been.

I didn't even see any food places and the stalls aimed at tourism were a bit of a let down as well. It stinks that there really isn't one event in the UK that brings Canadians together (except the Maple Leaf pub party) and when they put one on they aim it at everyone except us!

I was at the Maple Leaf for a couple hours from 11am and we had to leave because the toilets were getting frightening. Anyone else go there later on? How was it?

Pretty crap all in all. Hopefully Hyde Park was better. couldn't make it due to severe drunkeness as a result of the England loss.

My kids were off school so we made the trek into London for the event, wow was the Tube hot and crowded! There were street performers with balloons and games doing their best to keep the kids/parents amused and it would have been nice to have a few more things for the kids, maybe a Canadian themed craft stall, bouncy castle, hockey-beat-the-goalie, etc. Did have our faces painted and got tattoos which the kids loved. The only Canadian food we saw was in the little cafe behind the stage and it was thin European style pancakes with Aunt Jemima syrup and ice cream. A&W root beer was a bonus though. Where were the Timmy's donuts & coffee, Beaver Tails, acadian rapure, B.C. salmon, maritime lobster & poutine? The street hockey was fun to watch but the kids were bored pretty quickly. Saw the first few stage acts, the Native dancers and first few music acts were really good! If I didn't have the kids with me I would have enjoyed staying to watch the rest of the stage show.
Agree with the others though that this seemed to be more of a way of promoting Canada to the Brits rather than a gathering of Canadians. We were decked out in our Canadiana and just got stared at for the most part, sheesh.
Not sure I'd bother to come in next year, especially with the kiddos.
Laura

The subject line sums it up, really. My husband said the whole event felt "sanitized". And what time do they think Canadians go to bed - what's with the music ending at 9pm, I'd only been there for a couple of hours after work!
I think another issue was that there are just not enough Canadians here to warrant such a large space for our gathering. I really missed the intimacy (ie squashed feeling) of Canada Days past. We were so spread out in Trafalgar Square that I didn't chat to as many people as I usually do.
Hope the gathering in Hyde Park was a good one. See you all at the Maple Leaf next year

Anyone going this year? Has it remained an immigration event over the years? I saw they were advertising for it on the Tube this last week.

I think I'm going this year. Even if it ends up not being that great it beats not doing anything. Might as well get out and see if for myself.