| Article | June 8, 2010
Canada Day festivities at Mel Lastman Square
An eclectic mix of music, activities, fireworks and family entertainment will fill Mel Lastman Square for Canada Day on July 1 from 5 to 10 p.m., presented by Wonder+.
Wonder+ hosts a day packed with activities to promote healthy living for kids, in partnership with KidSport. This is an opportunity to meet Olympic athletes like speed-skating gold medalists Charles and Francois Hamelin, Team Canada hockey player and gold medalist Vicky Sunohara, and speed skater and 2010 Olympic medalist Kristina Groves.
Activity stations will open at 5 p.m., followed by a KidSport Fundraiser barbecue at 6 p.m. and the first annual Wonder+ 100-Metre Canada Day Dash at 7 p.m.
Multiple musical acts will perform at Mel Lastman Square beginning at 5 p.m. Performers will include Juno Award winning African guitarist Adam Solomon and traditional Aboriginal music by Northern Voices. The national anthem will be performed by Tricia Williams of the Delightful Divas.
Kicking off the entertainment for the evening at 8 p.m. is 2010 Juno Award winner (for Aboriginal Album of the Year) Digging Roots. Using a mix of indigenous influences, rock, hip-hop, and blues, Digging Roots creates a unique sound that will delight audiences of all ages. Vocalists Shoshona Kish and Raven Kanatakta sing about culture, freedom and identity through breathy, seductive tones and throaty wails. With vocals compared to those of Janice Joplin and the guitar solos of Led Zeppelin, this performance is sure get people out of their seats.
Toronto-based band God Made Me Funky uses a mixture of funk, rap, rock and R&B to create their signature Nufunk style - a new twist on old school hip-hop, jazz and funk. With their ability to influence crowds with their contagious energy, this Juno-nominated funk/soul band features vocalist Melissa O’Neil, the 2005 Canadian Idol winner, as well as an assorted collection of musicians ranging from a classically trained jazz artist to self-taught hip-hop and R&B vocalists.
To keep the audience moving, the Olympic athletes will be on hand to lead a “get up and stretch" break between musical acts.
The evening will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display.
Special thanks to our sponsors: Live Green Toronto, Canadian Heritage and Wonder+.
For more information, the public can call 311 or visit http://www.toronto.ca/special_events.
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