‘It means so many different things’: Crowds return to Alberta Legislature grounds to mark Canada Day

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After a two-year hiatus, Edmontonians returned to the grounds of the Alberta Legislature to celebrate Canada Day on Friday.

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Crowds gathered under sunny, cloudless skies early in the day before clouds rolled in in the afternoon and thunderstorms threatened fireworks scheduled for Friday evening .

Among those gathered was Harry Stephens, 68, who said he was visiting the Legislative Assembly on his 15th Canada Day.

« It just means remembering the freedom of choice, the freedom of freedoms that we have here in Canada, » he said when asked what the significance of the day was.

Stephens spent the morning strolling the field’s South Lawn, dressed in red and white and carrying a Canadian flag draped around his body or held up proudly to pose for photos.

« It’s just great to see everyone back, » he said of the crowds returning to mark the holiday.

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Others, like Gerald Wyeens, came out to join in the celebrations in Alberta’s capital.

Wyeens came from Winnipeg to attend the party and said the meaning of Canada Day is not easy to understand.

« It’s too complex to say in a few words, » he said. “It means so many different things.

« For me, it’s a time of pleasure and, to some extent, pride for my country, and once in a while, disappointment for my country too. I reflect on what it should be and could be, and then I see what it is not.

Early Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a statement, calling Canada « a country we love » and citing diversity as its strength, while acknowledging the wrongs of its past.

“Today we celebrate the place we all call home. I know for some, the historical wrongs of our country can make this difficult,” his statement read.

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« But even if we can’t change history, we can strive to build a better future – a future that reflects our values ​​of hope, resilience, kindness, respect and generosity. »

It was a message echoed by Michelle Wells, who sat on the South Lawn wearing an orange t-shirt.

She said the color was chosen to stand out from the typical red, white and Maple Leafs to mark a day of mourning.

« I don’t feel comfortable right now wearing red or white or whatever, » she said. « It’s not hatred. It’s just a sense of respect for my ancestors and my children of the past, and their voices that have not been heard.

Wells was part of a group that led its own rally and march to Edmonton City Hall to mark what he called ‘a national day of mourning’ in memory of missing Indigenous women and girls. and murdered, and the tragic legacy of Canada’s residential school system. .

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« We just ask that everyone continue to stand together and support our people and handle the situation with kindness. »

That’s a message echoed by Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi in a statement posted on his blog.

« We must accept these hard truths, we must work alongside Indigenous communities to co-create an anti-racist Canada that focuses on their experiences, resilience and genius, » he wrote.

“We are all treaty people. »

For others, Friday was a time to reflect on the freedoms Canadians enjoy.

Dirk Homburg wore a Team Canada soccer jersey, with maple leaf shades and a Canada flag attached to a hockey stick for his 13th Canada Day in the Legislative Assembly.

Homburg says he grew up in the West German city of Kassel, not far from the East German border.

« I saw the (Berlin) wall and the Eastern bloc and all that, » he said. “People don’t understand the freedom we have here in Canada.

He said living so close to the realities of Communist rule gave him a special appreciation for the life he was able to lead in Alberta.

« It’s really important to celebrate that freedom, » he said. « It’s not given for free. »

mblack@postmedia.com

Twitter @ByMatthewBlack