Yellowknife and northern musicians will be part of the special Canada Day celebrations this year as the city takes part in a five-city 'Canada Day Across the Country.'
The city announced in a news release Wednesday that popular Dene-Canadian singer and songwriter Leela Gilday will be broadcast on a Heritage Canada, televised and live-streamed event through CBC Radio Canada and various other online platforms.
Residents can tune in starting at 11 a.m. MDT on July 1, states the news release.
The news release explains that Gilday has been working on a new song for Canada's birthday and put material together in less than a month.
"In just three short weeks, Leela Gilday wrote, rehearsed and recorded a special song with a local, northern band consisting of Al Bee, Pat Braden, Wesley Hardisty, and Lawrence Nayally, and a production team that included the Artless Collective and PIDO productions," states the news release. "A vibrant music video was shot on top of Pilots Monument earlier this month."
An interactive live-streamed “Zoom Concert’ on July 1 will be included in the performance and will allow audience members to join the artists and dance and clap along to their performances.
"Concert attendees can choose to share their camera or simply watch," states the news release. "Question and answer sessions with the artists will occur after the performances."
Mayor Rebecca Alty provided a statement saying that the event will give Yellowknife and northern artists exposure to a national audience.
"We are honoured to have been included in this unique, national broadcast and virtual Canada Day celebrations,” said Mayor Rebecca Alty. “We look forward to celebrating together while enjoying and showcasing some of Yellowknife’s incredible artists. As the video was shot on a gorgeous northern day, the rest of Canada will get to see our beautiful landscape too!"
Virtual Canada Day
The same day will also include a number of Virtual Canada Day activities, which are included on the City of Yellowknife's Canada Day page.
Among those events include residents providing video footage of themselves enjoying celebration of the 40th anniversary of the national anthem, and a compilation of Canada Day Shout-outs.
"The City encourages residents to participate and celebrate together as a community virtually," states the news release.
For information on the ‘Canada Day Across the Country’ National Broadcast, visit www.canada.ca.