To help you safely get around while you celebrate all things Canada, the City of Lethbridge is offering free extended transit service July 1.
According to the City, the #3 cityLink Green and #4 cityLink Orange will transport people to Henderson Lake Park beginning at 7 p.m. to catch the fireworks. Both routes will also be available after the fireworks.
“This is the first time ever, at least in 20 years to my history, we’ve done free Canada Day service all day from 8 a.m. to close to midnight we’re going to have free transit service,” says Darwin Juell, general manager of Transportation and Transit for the City.
It is hoped, a lot of Canada Day revellers come out and use the free bus, “and try to avoid those busy parking lots,” adds Juell. “Take a free transit bus, use it and experience transit in its beauty.”
On Canada Day, the City will have its regular holiday service from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. “It’s so much more convenient. We’ll drop them off right at Mayor Magrath Drive or any of the other locations regular transit serves and the extended transit service from 7-11:45 p.m.,” notes Juell.
Transit, Juell says, has also exceeded its pre-pandemic ridership levels. “We’re kind of celebrating that.”
This year, Canada Day celebrations in Lethbridge will take place at Galt Gardens and Henderson Lake Park.
“Similar to last year, we are in two locations,” says Janessa Brown, co-chair of the City’s Canada Day planning committee.
At Galt Gardens, activities run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., which will include a show and shine, an artisan market and a tipi and Indigenous education area. “We’ll start off with an Interfaith Food Bank Charity Breakfast, which will begin at 9 a.m.,” adds Brown.
Festivities will begin at Henderson Lake Park at 11 a.m. with Main Stage entertainment. “We have an amazing lineup of performers and dancers,” says Brown.
Crowd favourites will include food trucks and a youth market and new activities include stilt walkers, a bubble station and an educational magic show.
“In the afternoon, we’ll also have dragon boat, canoe and kayak demos, weather permitting,” notes Brown.
To finish off the evening, fireworks are scheduled to light up the night at 11 p.m. Confirmation of the fireworks will be posted on the City’s social media platforms and announced at the event, as soon as final determination is known, which is also weather dependent.
