RED, WHITE AND WONDER
Children watch in awe as a busker performs during Canada Day festivities that drew tens of thousands of people to downtown Ottawa and Parliament Hill.
Mother Nature didn’t receive the memo: Canada was celebrating the white and red, not the wet and red.
Still, despite a gloomy forecast, the early festivities at Parliament Hill largely avoided the pouring rain. Aside from a few scattered showers, the worst of the rain held off until the noon show wrapped up and the crowds were able to disperse.
The attendance numbers reflected that brighter-than-expected outcome, too. Approximately 34,000 people came from coast to coast to celebrate the noon show at Parliament Hill, in honour of Canada’s 148th birthday.
The show began with a soulful rendition of O Canada and the Royal Anthem by Winnipeg singer-songwriter Cassidy Mann, and featured musical acts including country musician Gord Bamford, Calgary pop star Kiesza, Quebec singer-songwriter Marc Dupré and reggae fusion headliners Magic!
All of the listed performers took the stage again for the evening show on Parliament Hill.
The noon show did see the absence of one notable tradition, however: the Snowbirds demonstration team, which is usually seen flying in formation over the Hill every Canada Day, wasn’t part of the early celebrations due to atmospheric conditions and a low ceiling. Clearer skies later in the day allowed the Snowbirds to make an evening appearance.
“I understand that safety is the pilots’ No. 1 concern,” said Scott Ford, who was watching the early festivities, “and no one wants to see their life threatened from flying in poor conditions.” He added that the cancellation of the early flypast was “disappointing,” saying that the Snowbirds’ flight adds an element of “national pride”
Nevertheless, there was plenty of Canadian pride on display around Parliament. In addition to colourful outfits adorned with Canadian flags and maple leaves, those who came to enjoy the shows were eager to share why their country is so appealing.
“I like the freedom,” said Paul Levesque, 55. “I like the multiple cultures and how safe we are here compared to other countries.”
Fellow Hill attendee Maureen Mikocic agreed, adding that the country should be proud of “its freedom, its friendliness and its diversity.”
Earlier in the day, national pride was also on display at the Mayor’s Annual Canada Day Celebration for Seniors at Lansdowne Park. The event, which was attended by approximately 2,500 seniors, was by invitation only.
Claude and Claire Cloutier, a married couple who showed up for the gathering, agreed that multiculturalism is one of Canada’s most alluring traits.
“That’s the biggest thing. People are accepted as they are,” Claude said. “It wasn’t always like that.”
For Tony McNeil, another invitee, it’s important to celebrate Canada because of its freedom and security compared to more oppressive countries like Egypt and Syria.
“I spent 36 years in the military, and I’ve done a lot of (United Nations) peacekeeping,” he said.
“So I’ve been other places where there’s not freedom, there’s not security, and you can’t open your mouth and say whatever you want. Here, you can go down the middle of Rideau Street ... and preach, and nobody’s going to say anything.”