Plan to call Canada Day ‘New Day’ puts Winnipeg on defensive
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New Day doesn’t appear to be attracting the welcome mat in Winnipeg.
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Changing Canada Day with what has been dubbed “New Day” has led to controversy, which town of Winnipeg has acknowledged.
The July 1 occasion organized by The Forks within the coronary heart of Winnipeg goes forward with out fireworks.
On its occasion calendar the organizations stated, “We’re reimagining a Canada Day, a brand new day, that features a reflective, inclusive and enjoyable day for everybody to come back collectively.”
The change drew the ire of Winnipeg candidate for mayor Jenny Motkaluk.
“On July 1st, I might be proudly celebrating Canada’s birthday as a result of I really like my nation unconditionally. I assume I can’t do this on the Forks as a result of I’ve not too long ago realized that it’s canceled,” she tweeted.
“PS — I’m presently accepting invites to all precise Canada Day events.”
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The dubbing of Canada Day as a ‘New Day’, put The Forks on the defensive.
“Controversy has arisen over the plans for a reimagined Canada Day on the Forks,” stated an announcement from the Board for the Forks North Portage Partnership.
“The Forks by no means supposed to reduce or remove the thought of Canada Day however use it as a possibility to reimagine how we acknowledge and rejoice the day collectively.”
In 2021 –- after the invention of the stays of at the very least 200 kids on the web site of a former residential college close to Kamloops, B.C. – there have been some efforts in components of the nation to arrange ‘Cancel Canada Day’ occasions.
Since then, the stays of a number of hundred extra kids have been found on the websites of different former residential colleges.
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A Winnipeg group has deliberate a 2nd Annual ‘Cancel Canada Day, Indigenous Resilience’ occasion in downtown Winnipeg at Portage and Major — after which march to the legislature.
“We are going to converse on each single act of Genocide that Canada has dedicated in opposition to First Nations Peoples and the way it’s affected us,” organizers wrote on a Fb occasion web page.
In Ontario, one college despatched a letter to folks giving them the choice to refuse a Canadian flag if the wished.
“College students may even have the chance to obtain a Canadian flag from the (redacted) Lion’s Membership,” the letter stated.
“Should you would like that your youngster doesn’t obtain a Canadian Flag, please return the underside portion of this letter to the varsity previous to June 28, 2022. If you don’t return the shape, your youngster will obtain a flag.”
This yr, Toronto has a full slate of Canada Day festivities.
In saying the occasions town famous it “Acknowledges that July 1 is just not a day of celebration for everybody, notably First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.”
slaurie@postmedia.com
Twitter: @_ScottLaurie
