Saskatoon Canada Day celebrations showcase diversity

WATCH: Canada Day celebrations brought the crowds to River Landing Tuesday, drawing both long-time residents and newcomers alike.

Saskatoon was eagerly preparing for Canada Day 158 celebrations on Tuesday.

Shad Ali, the director of Canada Day Saskatoon, shared that it will be an opportunity to both acknowledge Indigenous peoples and the many communities who now call Canada home.

“It’s really important for us to honour those who came before us,” Ali told CTV News. “It offers, all the benefits that it gives us through to today, but also to understand that as they did, that we have a responsibility to steward it forward to those who are yet to come.”

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Beginning at noon, the day’s celebrations will feature several activities, including multicultural performances.

“They’ll sit and stand shoulder to shoulder with people from around the world. Representing the cultural mosaic that Canada, Saskatchewan and Saskatoon have actually become,” Ali said.

Sushmita Dutta has been performing on Canada Day with her Bollywood style dance group since 2017.

“What’s fun about it [is] fireworks and there are various cultures and various diversity ... it is so colorful. They’re amazing, amazing performances as well. So please come and join us,” Dutta asked.

The performer added that the day allows for folks to understand how many different communities are represented within Saskatoon.

“We have five in [the] group and one is from Canada. She is Canadian and she likes Indian songs, so that’s awesome. You know, there’s different culture in my group,” she said.

After some uncertainty due to water levels, the city’s fireworks show is now confirmed to start at 10:30 p.m.

As opposed to firing them off of a barge on the river, they will now be set off from Rotary Park.

“They’ll be a little lower, a little bit smaller shells for sure, but still gorgeous. It also means that the fireworks company can do a little bit longer, a little bit more fancy tricks,” Ali noted.

Residents are asked to avoid the park on Tuesday as crews continue their set up efforts.