Canadians are poutine on quite a show for Canada Day, and you’re invited

Leeroy Peterson is looking forward to the celebration. Photo: Michelle Taylor.

Travelling overseas is off the cards for a while yet but tomorrow (1 July) you can experience a little slice of Canada in the ACT by celebrating Canada Day.

Official Canada Day activities here in Canberra will all be taking place online this year, so there has never been an easier time to get involved.

The Canada Down Under Facebook page will be live streaming from 7:00 am. First up, there will be a flag-raising ceremony over Lake Burley Griffin, then at 2:00 pm a variety-filled afternoon of Canadian art and culture.

At 5:00 pm it’s happy hour. Caribou’s Leeroy Peterson will be conducting a masterclass in the quintessential Canadian cocktail, the ‘Caesar’. It is a uniquely Canadian version of a Bloody Mary, where the tomato juice is swapped out with Clamato, a blend of tomato and … clam juice.

Jennifer Sutton and the family will be celebrating Canada Day with new friends. Photo: Supplied

Unofficially, ex-pats like Jennifer Sutton, who is currently posted to work at the High Commission of Canada, will be trying to recreate summer here at home in Canberra.

“For Canada Day we are celebrating by having our British, New Zealand, Italian, German and American friends over for a BBQ of hamburgers, hot dogs and salads. In Canada, Canada Day is a summer holiday so we will try to recreate the lazy days and warm weather feelings as much as possible,” Jennifer said.

Canada Day is a good day to try the sensational poutine. Photo: Michelle Taylor.

For those who want a taste of Canadian hospitality, Caribou in Kingston’s Green Square will be obliging. From 10:00 am until late they will be serving up a Canadian Pancake Breakfast with generous serves of one of the country’s most famous exports – maple syrup. There will also be beaver tails, an irresistible fried dough pastry that is hand-stretched into the shape of a beaver’s tail and topped with either sweet or savoury ingredients.

Of course, no Canadian celebration would be complete without poutine, a sensational combination of fries covered in gravy and cheese curds.

Canadian and Caribou owner Leeroy Peterson told Region Media the celebrations “will be denim-on-denim-on-denim, a no bookings, no reservations celebration happening throughout the day in Kingston!”

“Canada Day is like my birthday; I celebrate who I am. And at Caribou we will do it with Canadian beers, whiskey, and a whole menu of different ‘Caesar’ cocktails plus lots of poutine, of course.”

The Caesars menu at Caribou. Photo: Michelle Taylor.