Richmond hosts coast-to-coast drumming celebration on Canada Day
The 10th annual Canada Day Drumming brings 40 communities across Canada together at Lansdowne Centre on July 1, with 2,000 free rattle drums handed out.
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Richmond is one of 40 communities across Canada taking part in a synchronized six-minute drumming session on Canada Day, Wednesday, July 1.
The Canada Day Drumming celebration, now in its 10th year, started in 2017 during Canada's 150th anniversary. The free event moved from Vancouver to Lansdowne Centre's northwest parking lot this year due to FIFA venue restrictions in the city.
At 11:30 a.m. PST, participating communities across Canada will drum simultaneously for six minutes — one minute per time zone. The celebration will feature Indigenous drumming, lion dances, dragon performances, and martial arts demonstrations.
Alfred Woo, co-founder of Canada Day Drumming, explained the event's motto: "One Canada, One Beat." Drumming is a universal action that unites "immigrants, Indigenous peoples and native-born Canadians" as a shared expression of national identity and patriotism.
"Celebrating Canada Day means to us that we have adopted this country as our own, whether you're an immigrant or native born," said Woo. "In a very changing geopolitical world, we're still one nation and we are a true democratic nation."
More than 2,000 free commemorative rattle drums will be handed out to attendees. The national livestream and event runs from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. PST at Lansdowne Centre's parking lot, close to the corner of No. 3 Road and Alderbridge Way.
The event is a celebration of multiculturalism and a way for people to honour Canada and its communities.