YORKTON - Next week it’s July 1, and that means it’s again Canada Day.
The day is one with a rather extensive history.
Formerly known as Dominion Day, it is the national day for our country which celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation which occurred on July 1, 1867.
There are times such a day seems little more that a statutory holiday where we can stay home from work and relax.
But it really is more than that, or at least it should be.
While we have notable scars as a nation – it’s doubtful any nation has not made mistakes in its history that at some point they realized were indeed wrong – but Canada has emerged as something rather special.
Canada is a hugely diverse nation which has ultimately managed to create a culture that is really largely a patchwork taking bits from the First Nations which were here first, adding other bits from each immigrant group that has arrived seeking a fresh start and better life, and in the end have something that is difficult to define, but very much Canada.
And, we as a nation continue to evolve, and that is a positive thing. We gain renewed vibrancy as we accept other cultures to meld into the fabric of our nation.
One need not leave their bagpipes, or perogies, or Pinoy Festival behind when coming to Canada. They are welcome here as the newcomers become Canadian.
We need only look to our city in the last months to get a better understanding of what our diversity means.
Four weeks of CultureFest have seen the cultures of Ukraine, India, Jamaica, Nigeria and others celebrated.
Then on June 21, the Summer Solstice National Indigenous Peoples Day was marked in Yorkton with a day of activities hosted by the Yorkton Tribal Council.
The same day the Filipino community of East Central Saskatchewan as the Parkland Filipino-Canadian Association Corp hosted its annual Pinoy Festival at the Yorkton Regional High School in Yorkton.
Such events showcase our diversity.
July 1, however, goes a step further. We can step beyond our root cultures and wrap ourselves in red and white as collectively being part of the nation of Canada. We have embraced our differences, now it is time to celebrate what we have in common – pride in our nation.
Given the issues our country faces today because of US president Donald Trump we have seen a groundswell of pride, with more attention placed on buying Canadian, or vacationing on this side of the 49th parallel, of flying the flag, or slogans such as ‘elbows up.’
Those are good things in the face of Trump’s threats, and July 1, we can reaffirm our sovereignty as a nation by gathering to celebrate what in the end is a great nation built on a strong foundation of diversity.
