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12 years ago
When is FCD?
Canada Day happens on July 1st, since 1867. Furry Canada Day (FCD), amazingly enough, happens on that day too (but isn't quite so old!)
Why is FCD?
Because, Canada, and Fluff, and Yay!!!!!
Do I need a fursuit to attend?
Absolutely not! You can come with or without a fursuit, or any combination thereof. Many people just wear tails/ears to show their Canadian furry pride side, while others wear either partial or even fullsuits.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have issues tolerating heat, you might want to pass on fursuiting. This is a summer event and happens completely outdoors on crowded streets and in the sun. The group does take a break in a shaded, quieter area, but for the most part we are walking in the heat and the crowds. It is your choice whether to wear one or not, so please act responsibly.
What should I bring with me?
Water! Enough to keep you well hydrated for the whole duration of the event, especially if you are a fursuiter. The walk can last over 2 hours and heat can be a major health hazard. We want you having fun and remain conscious, not sizzling like bacon and leaving in an ambulance!
Also bring sunscreen, food (or money, if you prefer/plan to buy something in the area,) comfortable clothing and walking shoes, your camera and (if you still have any from previous years) your FCD flags.
What happens if there is rain?
Rain is the big FCD enemy. If there is rain, the event will be cancelled. Be sure to keep an eye on weather forecast and on our FCD FA page and/or Twitter account for current updates - if things are cancelled, there will be messages sent out that morning.
How will we remain together in the busy downtown area without getting lost/separated?
First, two very large FCD flags will be carried (one leading the walk and one closing it.) Participants should try to stay inbetween as much as possible. (See said flags here.)
Second, the front flag holder, the rear flag holder and
Zets will be equipped with walkie-talkies. This will help with coordinating and herding furries smoothly from point A to point B. ^.^
Third, we will have smaller maps with common landmarks that will be given to people - handlers in particular. An important part of the handlers' job will be to make sure everyone is on track (especially those pesky fursuiters,) so if you aren't sure where to go next you will have something to check.
What is the schedule and meeting points?
The traditional meeting starting point of FCD is the Supreme Court on Wellington. You can consult the route map here. Please keep in mind that, aside from the starting time, everything else is an estimate - we aren't on a deadline, so cannot guarantee when we will finish exactly.
1 h 30 pm
Meetups at the Supreme Court of Canada, on Wellington (same street as Parliament Hill).
2 h 00 pm
Furwalk begins! If you arrive late, follow the route and you should be able catch up fairly easily. Be on the lookout for the Canada Paw Flags and you will find us. (Fursuiters and non-furry bystanders make for slow progress most of the time.)
We go from the Supreme Court, down past Parliament Hill and the Chateau Laurier, finally making our way over to the Art gallery. There will be one major rest stop and three planned group pictures (at the War Memorial, the US Embassy and by the Art Gallery itself.)
4 h 00 pm
Meals, Socialization, Relaxation; at this point, there are no planned events for several hours. We suggest you go eat, hang out with your friends/fellow furs locally until at least an hour before the fireworks.
10 h 00 pm
Watching the fireworks by the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Alexandra Bridge linking Ottawa and Gatineau near the Museum will be closed between 9pm and 11pm. If you are planning on using this bridge to join us, CROSS BEFORE 9:00PM
We will be providing a HUGE blue-tarp covered area down by the river for our group on the lawn of the Museum near the Alexandra Bridge. Again, look for the giant FCD flags marking the space. If you'd like to bring folding chairs or the like for you and your friends please do!
How can I help?
Reach out to any of the committee and say, "What can I do?" either ahead of time, or even at the start of the event itself. It's just that easy!
What is a handler; how can I be one?
The biggest job we always need people for is spotters/handlers for fursuiters; crazy animal people with crazy vision in crazy-ass excited crowds tend to get either sidetracked by "Can I take your picture?"x100 requests or else lose sight of the rest of us. As a thanks for your help, you will receive a special FCD slap band for your arm to help identify you in a crowd.
We need people without fur heads to be able to help keep the group together and keep the fursuiters moving. The benefit is that you will have paower....errr, you will have the responsibility:
a) to tell people (and trust us, there will be plenty of people) that the pretty animal person really needs to move along now, so no more pictures
b) to keep track of the start/end flags of the walk so that if anyone's confused you will be able to help them out.
My suit requires a handler to assist me full-time; can you provide me with one?
If a fursuiter requires a full-time spotter/handler, they will need to make arrangements on their own. Due to the nature of this meet, we try to recruit as many volunteers as we can to look after the group as a whole, yet they should not be taken for granted - and we will never know ahead of time how many there will be. They may also not have experience with your specific needs. Try to ensure that a friend or someone who has spotted for you before will be there as well or consider coming without your fursuit.
- Due to the public nature of this event, FCD cannot be held responsible for any damage done to a fursuit. Long dragging tails, quadsuits, fragile fursuits or the like are not advisable due to the large crowd of non furry people present. Be advised that if you choose to come with one, you do so at your own risk.
Where do we go after the walk?
The furwalk can last over two hours and be very intense. For this reason, different people often want to do different things afterwards. Participants have a few hours to go for food, relax, enjoy the festivities around, socialize or anything you want really. We regroup later for the fireworks around 9:00-9:30 pm - see the above schedule for more details!
Who is behind FCD?
Zets and 
tecywiz121 are the founders of this tradition, back in 2008. Since then, it has steadily grown in popularity as more furs hear about it.
In order to make things run smoother, a committee was formed for FCD 2013. This includes the founders as well as
Stanthelion 
Windrunner 
neeraja 
Serith 
Blitz9
With this team, we hope to make FCD even more awesome in the years to come =D
How do you use the fundraising money?
For the first year, in 2013, FCD will have a fundraising portion of it. This is primarily so that we can prevent Zets from spending a ton of his own money on the individual flags anymore (all of which featured hand-drawn paws on them.) Very generous, but also a bit insane for one raccoon. Instead, they will be purchased with the money raised from generous furries.
Secondly, we are introducing a new prop this year for anyone who volunteers as a handler! They will receive a bright, shiny FCD slap band (which goes around your arm) that they can wear. This will help fursuiters be able to easily pick them out of the crowd if necessary. These will be keepsakes, meaning you don't have to give it back after the event (and may be dated, if you want to start a collection. :)
Any extra funds raised this year will be carried over into next year's FCD; depending on how things go, we might be able to bring more shinnies.... who knows!?
Future dates and themes
FCD 2014 - July 1st - Theme: Canada Furry!
FCD 2015 - July 1st - Theme: Canada Furry!
FCD 2016 - July 1st - Theme: Canada Furry!
Canada Day happens on July 1st, since 1867. Furry Canada Day (FCD), amazingly enough, happens on that day too (but isn't quite so old!)
Why is FCD?
Because, Canada, and Fluff, and Yay!!!!!
Do I need a fursuit to attend?
Absolutely not! You can come with or without a fursuit, or any combination thereof. Many people just wear tails/ears to show their Canadian furry pride side, while others wear either partial or even fullsuits.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have issues tolerating heat, you might want to pass on fursuiting. This is a summer event and happens completely outdoors on crowded streets and in the sun. The group does take a break in a shaded, quieter area, but for the most part we are walking in the heat and the crowds. It is your choice whether to wear one or not, so please act responsibly.
What should I bring with me?
Water! Enough to keep you well hydrated for the whole duration of the event, especially if you are a fursuiter. The walk can last over 2 hours and heat can be a major health hazard. We want you having fun and remain conscious, not sizzling like bacon and leaving in an ambulance!
Also bring sunscreen, food (or money, if you prefer/plan to buy something in the area,) comfortable clothing and walking shoes, your camera and (if you still have any from previous years) your FCD flags.
What happens if there is rain?
Rain is the big FCD enemy. If there is rain, the event will be cancelled. Be sure to keep an eye on weather forecast and on our FCD FA page and/or Twitter account for current updates - if things are cancelled, there will be messages sent out that morning.
How will we remain together in the busy downtown area without getting lost/separated?
First, two very large FCD flags will be carried (one leading the walk and one closing it.) Participants should try to stay inbetween as much as possible. (See said flags here.)
Second, the front flag holder, the rear flag holder and
Zets will be equipped with walkie-talkies. This will help with coordinating and herding furries smoothly from point A to point B. ^.^Third, we will have smaller maps with common landmarks that will be given to people - handlers in particular. An important part of the handlers' job will be to make sure everyone is on track (especially those pesky fursuiters,) so if you aren't sure where to go next you will have something to check.
What is the schedule and meeting points?
The traditional meeting starting point of FCD is the Supreme Court on Wellington. You can consult the route map here. Please keep in mind that, aside from the starting time, everything else is an estimate - we aren't on a deadline, so cannot guarantee when we will finish exactly.
1 h 30 pm
Meetups at the Supreme Court of Canada, on Wellington (same street as Parliament Hill).
2 h 00 pm
Furwalk begins! If you arrive late, follow the route and you should be able catch up fairly easily. Be on the lookout for the Canada Paw Flags and you will find us. (Fursuiters and non-furry bystanders make for slow progress most of the time.)
We go from the Supreme Court, down past Parliament Hill and the Chateau Laurier, finally making our way over to the Art gallery. There will be one major rest stop and three planned group pictures (at the War Memorial, the US Embassy and by the Art Gallery itself.)
4 h 00 pm
Meals, Socialization, Relaxation; at this point, there are no planned events for several hours. We suggest you go eat, hang out with your friends/fellow furs locally until at least an hour before the fireworks.
10 h 00 pm
Watching the fireworks by the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Alexandra Bridge linking Ottawa and Gatineau near the Museum will be closed between 9pm and 11pm. If you are planning on using this bridge to join us, CROSS BEFORE 9:00PM
We will be providing a HUGE blue-tarp covered area down by the river for our group on the lawn of the Museum near the Alexandra Bridge. Again, look for the giant FCD flags marking the space. If you'd like to bring folding chairs or the like for you and your friends please do!
How can I help?
Reach out to any of the committee and say, "What can I do?" either ahead of time, or even at the start of the event itself. It's just that easy!
What is a handler; how can I be one?
The biggest job we always need people for is spotters/handlers for fursuiters; crazy animal people with crazy vision in crazy-ass excited crowds tend to get either sidetracked by "Can I take your picture?"x100 requests or else lose sight of the rest of us. As a thanks for your help, you will receive a special FCD slap band for your arm to help identify you in a crowd.
We need people without fur heads to be able to help keep the group together and keep the fursuiters moving. The benefit is that you will have paower....errr, you will have the responsibility:
a) to tell people (and trust us, there will be plenty of people) that the pretty animal person really needs to move along now, so no more pictures
b) to keep track of the start/end flags of the walk so that if anyone's confused you will be able to help them out.
My suit requires a handler to assist me full-time; can you provide me with one?
If a fursuiter requires a full-time spotter/handler, they will need to make arrangements on their own. Due to the nature of this meet, we try to recruit as many volunteers as we can to look after the group as a whole, yet they should not be taken for granted - and we will never know ahead of time how many there will be. They may also not have experience with your specific needs. Try to ensure that a friend or someone who has spotted for you before will be there as well or consider coming without your fursuit.
- Due to the public nature of this event, FCD cannot be held responsible for any damage done to a fursuit. Long dragging tails, quadsuits, fragile fursuits or the like are not advisable due to the large crowd of non furry people present. Be advised that if you choose to come with one, you do so at your own risk.
Where do we go after the walk?
The furwalk can last over two hours and be very intense. For this reason, different people often want to do different things afterwards. Participants have a few hours to go for food, relax, enjoy the festivities around, socialize or anything you want really. We regroup later for the fireworks around 9:00-9:30 pm - see the above schedule for more details!
Who is behind FCD?
Zets and 
tecywiz121 are the founders of this tradition, back in 2008. Since then, it has steadily grown in popularity as more furs hear about it.In order to make things run smoother, a committee was formed for FCD 2013. This includes the founders as well as
Stanthelion 
Windrunner 
neeraja 
Serith 
Blitz9With this team, we hope to make FCD even more awesome in the years to come =D
How do you use the fundraising money?
For the first year, in 2013, FCD will have a fundraising portion of it. This is primarily so that we can prevent Zets from spending a ton of his own money on the individual flags anymore (all of which featured hand-drawn paws on them.) Very generous, but also a bit insane for one raccoon. Instead, they will be purchased with the money raised from generous furries.
Secondly, we are introducing a new prop this year for anyone who volunteers as a handler! They will receive a bright, shiny FCD slap band (which goes around your arm) that they can wear. This will help fursuiters be able to easily pick them out of the crowd if necessary. These will be keepsakes, meaning you don't have to give it back after the event (and may be dated, if you want to start a collection. :)
Any extra funds raised this year will be carried over into next year's FCD; depending on how things go, we might be able to bring more shinnies.... who knows!?
Future dates and themes
FCD 2014 - July 1st - Theme: Canada Furry!
FCD 2015 - July 1st - Theme: Canada Furry!
FCD 2016 - July 1st - Theme: Canada Furry!
We'll also have several official stops; 1 for rest and three for pictures.
If you need extra break, you can approach an identified handler so you don't get lost / left behind. It's important to not be shy and tell them your needs, we want you healthy and having fun!