Audrey Boucher
Parliament Hill, June 30, 2017.
“I’m from Gatineau now, but I come from Vanier. I remember coming here in 1967. We had visitors from out West. My father was from Calgary and his relatives were coming from there to visit Ottawa. It was the 100th birthday, so it was very special. My cousin was supposed to come from out West this year to celebrate the 150th this year, because she was here 50 years ago, too, but she couldn’t make it. So that’s very sad; we had big plans for that.
“But it was a wonderful time then. We went to Expo 67, and that was very big, even bigger for us practically than Parliament Hill, because we were going to Montreal, and there were rides. It was very exciting back then.
“I remember coming here with my parents on July 1, and we came with my cousin because we had to show her around. I remember the crowds — they were huge crowds — but as to what was going on on Parliament Hill that day, that’s hazy. But we had so much going on that day. It was very exciting. You know, we live in different times now. Back then there was no security — the crowd just arrived. But here today, I had to go through security. Times have changed in 50 years.
“Multiculturalism has changed, too. Ottawa was not as multicultural in 1967. That has changed a lot, and it’s a great thing. Of course it is. I’m from Vanier, and Vanier is Vanier — we’re more open, I find. I’m a proud Canadian. I’m more Canadian than I am from Gatineau or Ottawa or Ontario or Quebec or Calgary, Alberta. I’m Canadian — and I find we lose that. But I’m proud. We’re a peaceful and multicultural country, and we just love everyone. And I’m proud to have Justin Trudeau as our prime minister, and I’m proud that his father was prime minister.” bdeachman@postmedia.com