Canada Day is all about coming together

By Lethbridge Herald on June 27, 2025.

Al Beeber
Lethbridge Herald

Canada Day is Tuesday and, unlike last year, sunny skies and lots of heat are in the forecast which should put people in a much more celebratory spirit.

I covered the Canada Day events here last year because I wanted to give my reporters a chance to enjoy July 1 with friends and family and until skies cleared in mid-afternoon, I managed to get soaked to the skin.

Starting at Galt Gardens early in the morning and moving to Henderson  Lake at noon, I did my best to capture the spirit of the day as throngs of undeterred city residents took in the festivities despite the rain.

Organizers of the city events did a fantastic job in 2024 and no doubt  they’ll do so again on Tuesday.

I’m not sure yet what I’ll be doing on Canada Day – whether it’s  covering the city stuff or heading out to shoot the parade in Raymond, where patriotism shines brightly every July 1 with Canadian flags flying on yards throughout the community.

A couple of years ago, thanks to a friend volunteering to help me find a spot to shoot the parade, I ended up with him accidentally leading it down Broadway. Val Boehme of the organizing committee was understanding when I told him what we were doing and I managed to get some decent shots. The last time I’d been in the Raymond parade was days after Grade 9 ended and band teacher Grant Erickson had us performing in it. But that performance was intentional.

Two years ago before the parade, I had the chance to interview parade marshal and former CFL great Lloyd Fairbanks who I hadn’t seen since I  was a kid. So if I end up there on Tuesday, who knows what might  transpire?

There are many in this country who feel Canada Day is nothing to celebrate because of Canada’s settler history and numerous other reasons. I’m leery even discussing it in a positive light because of the antipathy toward public celebration due to the association our flag has among some with racist or anti-Ottawa/anti-vaccine/anti-Alberta sentiments.

But Canadians have much to celebrate, being a nation where we strive to give everyone a voice and a place at the table. Peacefully.

Certainly work needs to be done to ensure everyone is respected and valued, but much of that work has to be done individually with people reaching out to each other to learn about one another and to try to work through differences with mutual respect.

We can’t just rely on politicians and legislation to build bridges, settle differences and grow as a united nation; we each have our own part to do.

And  taking steps on a path toward understanding is a trek we can all embark upon. The growth and development of a nation involves in part a  journey of self-discovery and an effort to learn about the needs, dreams and aspirations of others who live beside us and among us  regardless of race, religion and gender.

That’s what Canada Day is about – coming together as individuals under one flag that is waved proudly from coast to coast, united in the  belief that a place exists for all of us and future generations with a determination to do our part to truly keep Canada strong and free.