Prince Rupert residents can celebrate Canada’s 159th birthday on Monday, July 1, 2026, at the annual Canada Day event at Pacific Mariners Memorial Park (commonly known as Mariners Park) from 7 p.m. to midnight. The free community gathering, hosted by the Prince Rupert Special Events Society, will feature live entertainment and a fireworks display over the harbour.
The society, a non-profit run entirely by volunteers, has organized this beloved tradition since 1992. This year’s event continues the familiar format of an evening at the waterfront park, located at the foot of McBride Street, with the fireworks serving as the highlight.
The fireworks show is a true community effort. Local companies donate critical services to make the display possible. Wainwright Marine provides a tugboat, crew, and barge at no cost to launch the fireworks from the harbour. Bandstra Transportation Systems ships the fireworks in from Prince George and stores the society’s equipment free of charge.
Grants from the Prince Rupert Regional Community Foundation have helped modernize the show. Wireless modules, purchased with foundation funding, let technicians pre-program and fire parts of the display wirelessly, making the show more reliable.
The society remains the only organization in the North with certified fireworks technicians. Seven members have completed initial training over the past two years, and two finished the final federal acceptance protocol, ensuring the fireworks tradition can continue for years to come.
