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Time & Location
The Gorge Canada Day Picnic is on July 1, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., along the beautiful Gorge Waterway. The length of Gorge Road West from Tillicum Rd to Admirals Rd hosts the event and will be closed to traffic from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.
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Features & Events
Fun for the whole family, including the Canada Day Family Parade, Pancake Breakfast, Canada Day Show and Shine car show, Gorge on Art, lots of food trucks, voyageur canoe rides on the Gorge, the Canada Day Market, Community Engagement displays, Craigflower School House open house, Strawberry Tea, street hockey, and kids' inflatables and activities.
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Featured Performers
Great entertainment throughout the day on three stages! The Main Stage performers in 2023 include Paradise Street, the Stephanie Cadman Trio, and Freeze Frame. You can catch an intimate performance at the Gorge on Art stage, local musicians busking their stuff at Busker's Corner, and other entertainment along the way.
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Gorge Canada Day Picnic
Join us for food, music, markets, and fun on Canada Day!
Beginning in 1999, the Gorge Tillicum Community Association has hosted the Gorge Canada Day Picnic along the beautiful Gorge Waterway Park in south Saanich. The event has now grown into one of the premier Canada Day celebrations in the Greater Victoria region, drawing thousands of people to this popular and traffic-free family event.
Gorge Canada Day Event Map
We've plotted event locations, food vendors, and amenities in a Google map so you can plan your day or use your smartphone or tablet as a guide.
view larger map >Download the event programme!
The programme includes a map (event locations, food vendors, facilities, etc.) and complete event schedule. You can also use our online interactive map on your smartphone or tablet. A print-ready version of the poster is also available if you'd like to help promote the event.
Download 2023 Programme! Download 2023 Poster!Our Sponsors
See all sponsors!Latest News
Wow, what a day! Happy faces everywhere (well, maybe a few kids tears here and there) and a fantastic celebration here on the Gorge Waterway. Thank-you to all our sponsors and volunteers and to our neighbourhood!
It's on! The food is great, the music is playing, and classic cars are shining! Come on down, it's on until 4pm!
Thanks to Hazelwood for getting the paving done! It's fresh new blacktop. There are some unpaved sidewalks and unlandscaped areas, so please take care. With the heat, we suggest a hat, and please consider the new pavement will be hot, so be careful with your dogs paws! There is no designated parking area, so if you are coming by car, you'll need to park on our neighbourhood side streets and walk a few blocks. We're looking forward to hosting you in our community!
Riding your bicycles to the event? There will be bicycle valet parking staffed by Capital City Bike. They will be in the parking lot near the playground just past the Gorge & Tillicum intersection.
Want to get off the land and onto the water? The Victoria Canoe and Kayak club offering rides from the beach at Craigflower-Kosapsom Park. For only a few dollars each, they will take you out for a paddle on the water, under the bridge, and back to the beach.
Gorge on Art has become a staple feature of the Gorge Canada Day Picnic. This year it expands into the grassy area at "The Bend" at the bottom of Austin Avenue. You can visit 28 local artists and view their art. This zone also features one of the day's entertainment stages. The entertainment line-up at Gorge on Art feature classical and contemporary musicians from the Victoria Conservatory of Music!
You may know there is currently construction along Gorge Road West. We met with Saanich and Hazelwood Construction today. They are working hard on having the road repaving complete this month. Sidewalks, landscaping, and other things will not be complete before the event. Rest assured they will clear equipment and clean up on June 30th and the Picnic will be able to take place on July 1st.
We are pleased to announce the Main Stage 2023 line-up! Paradise Street will kick off the day at noon. At 1:15pm come tap your toes to the high energy Stephanie Cadman Trio, with Adrian Dolan on keys and Kraig Waye on Guitar and vocals. A world-renowned dancer, celebrated violinist an accomplished actress of stage and screen, Stephanie’s talents know no bounds. Maintaining a busy touring schedule as a Canadian Folk Awarded solo musician, Stephanie has rocked audiences across North America and beyond. To end the day, come dance away to the 1980s cover band Freeze Frame!
Gorge on Art has become a staple feature of the Gorge Canada Day Picnic. You can visit over 20 local artists and view their art. This zone also features one of the day's three stages. For 2023, the entertainment line-up at Gorge on Art will again feature musicians from the Victoria Conservatory of Music!
Rest assured the Gorge Canada Day Picnic is on again in 2023! Plan to be there on Saturday July 1, 2023.