On July 1, come celebrate Canada Day at the Mackenzie King Estate. Join us for a fun-filled day, with festivities for all ages!
Fun fact: Three days after the Canadian Citizenship Act came into force, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King became the very first Canadian citizen, along with 25 other people. He began our country's first-ever citizenship ceremony with the words, “I speak to you as a citizen of Canada.”
About the activity
This celebration takes place rain or shine. It is free and suitable for all ages. No registration needed.
On July 1 only, there is free parking throughout Gatineau Park.
Program
In addition to regular access to the Estate gardens, ruins, picnic area and hiking trails, the following activities will take place:
| Hours | Activities |
| 10 am to 5 pm |
|
| 10 am to noon | Hands on History |
| 10 am and 4 pm | Friends of Gatineau Park |
| 11 am and noon | Performance by Sons of Scotland and highland dancers near Moorside |
| 12:30 pm | Celebration with Canada Day cupcakes near Moorside |
| 1 pm to 4 pm | Airbrush tattoo |
| 2 pm and 3 pm | Guided tour of the Estate from P6 (English at 2 pm, French at 3 pm) |
In case of very bad weather, guided tours will be cancelled, and activities will be moved indoors.
Date and time
Wednesday, July 1, 2026: Most activities will take place from 10 am to 5 pm, but the site is open all day.
Location
The event takes place at the Mackenzie King Estate, located on the Mackenzie King Parkway in Chelsea, Quebec.
Accessibility
The Mackenzie King Estate parking lot is paved and has two parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities.
The path leading from the parking lot to the buildings and Abbey Ruins is partially accessible to wheelchair users. Because the path has some steep slopes and is not paved, wheelchair users may need some assistance to hike this trail.
Most of the buildings at the Estate, including washrooms, and the paths between buildings are universally accessible. The ground floors of some of the museums are wheelchair accessible.
Manual wheelchairs are available upon request. If you need one, please ask one of the guide-interpreters on the site.