If you’re trying to decide what to do this July 1st in lieu of the usual gatherings at the cottage with family and friends, why not fill it with activities that celebrate the best parts of being Canadian?
After all, what could be more Canadian than being a good neighbour and keeping gatherings small and distanced?
How about a morning brew by the lake, good music, and great food?
This is your guide to the ultimate July 1st.
There’s a reason the loon is pictured on our currency. For anyone who’s spent a weekend at the cottage, you’ll know that distinct smell of dew-tinged forest, the haze that settles over the lake, and the sound of a loon call in the distance.
If you’re going to be at the cottage, getting up early to enjoy the sunrise on the dock with a hot cup of coffee in a Muskoka chair is really the only way to do it. Of course, you can replace coffee with a nice tea or hot chocolate, and if you’re not at the cottage on July 1st, you can enjoy the sunrise from your backyard or balcony. If that happens to be the case, ask one of your neighbours ahead of time to perform a loon call in the distance for the full effect.
After enjoying your morning coffee, take a moment to do a land acknowledgement. It’s a beautiful way to start the day, and recognizes the long history of our country.
When planning your meals for the day, skip the usual poutine and make it a Tater Poutine, a unique take on everybody’s favourite Canadian treat from Mary Brown’s Chicken.
Or how about a Big Mary? The classic sandwich with a pickle on top from Mary Brown’s Chicken is quintessentially Canadian. Since opening their first spot in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, in 1969, Mary Brown’s has become one of Canada’s best-kept secrets—even with nearly 200 restaurants across the country.
Their classic Signature Chicken, Taters, and sandwiches make a Canadian meal perfect for the cottage on July 1st. You can check out the store locator on the Mary Brown’s website to find the nearest store to you.
Canada may be a small country in terms of its population, but it’s also produced some of the world’s funniest actors and comedians. So naturally, it’s up to each person to tell a few (bad) jokes to celebrate our great nation.
If you have children around on July 1st, it’s your duty to quote movies they’ve never seen, and make “dad” jokes incessantly. It’s just the Canadian thing to do.
If you need a little inspiration, try a cottage pun. When your kids refuse to put their phones down to go for a ride on the lake, it’s the perfect time to whip out your cottage jokes.
“Luke, I am your father. Join the dock side and we can rule this lake together as father and son.”
Of course, this joke works best if your kid’s name is Luke, but any name should get the job done. You’ll know you’ve succeeded if they groan or bury their head in their hands out of embarrassment.
When it comes to activities on July 1st, you may think activities are limited, but this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy music from some of Canada’s top talent.
The Summer House Party is back this year, and it’s even bigger than last year! This three-hour music special will feature musical performances from Tim Hicks, K-Os, Serena Ryder, Jesse Cook, and more.
Filmed at Camp Tamakwa and the surrounding cottage country, Summer House Party will bring the concert to your cottage.
And thanks to Mary Brown’s Chicken, you can enjoy the three-hour program commercial free. The Canadian restaurant decided to sponsor the event because it celebrates the best elements of our country. Creativity, community, and connection. We’re all bound together by our shared love of good music, good food, and good friends.
You can catch the Summer House Party on Cottage Life TV at 5:30 p.m. EST.
Morning coffee by the lake, a land acknowledgement, dad jokes, great food, and lively music to wrap up the day. If that isn’t Canadian enough for you, there’s only one thing that can be said.
Sorry.
