Growing crowd celebrates Canada Day in Swift Current
Larger numbers of Swift Current residents are turning out to celebrate Canada Day during July 1 celebrations.
On Monday, a noticeably large crowd turned out at Swift Current Memorial Park for a noon hour flag raising and short ceremony. The Aguilar family, who recently became Canadian citizens, were selected to raise the Canadian flag during the singing of O Canada.
Coming on the day after the close of Frontier Days, the downtown gathering remains an important marking of Canada’s birthday.
Cypress Hills Grasslands MP David Anderson reminded the audience in the park that it has been 146 years since the British North America Act came into effect, making a unified Canada a reality.
“Canada Day is a time for us to celebrate our past and our present, while we look forward to our future. We get a chance to celebrate what it truly means to be Canadian,” MP Anderson said.
He highlighted that the core values from Canada’s confederation remain a priority today.
“We have a country that other nations envy, other nations model themselves after, and a country that we can be extremely proud of.”
“As Canadians we certainly have a lot to be proud of. Despite the ongoing instability around the world, The Aguilar Family, Gabriel Jr. Catherine, Gabriel III (G3) and Ghrandozz Aguilar, raised the flag during the singing of O Canada during Swift Current's Canada Day Celebrations. our country continues to excel and lead in so many ways.”
“Let’s continue to build a better Canada. A country that our children and our grand children could be as proud of as we are of our country today,” Anderson said.
Swift Current Deputy Mayor Ron Toles felt that July 1st should feature a larger outpouring of Canadian pride.
“Canadians like to be humble. I think it’s part of our national character. Humility’s a good thing, but I think it’s nice once in a while to kind of let things go. On this special occasion, on our country’s 146th birthday, we should let loose a little. It’s o.k. to make some happy noise and sing out our praise for Canada. On Canada Day I urge everybody to take part in the joy of living in our amazing country and our wonderful city.”
Toles said Canadians are fortunate to live in a stable, peaceful nation, enjoying freedoms and comforts others only imagine.
“Let’s set aside our humility for a few minutes and be passionate about the beauty of Canada’s flag and the hard earned values it represents. Let’s take this chance to show how proud we are to be Canadians and how much we love our country.”
He also said Canada Day is a time for the community to celebrate, coming off successful events like the Windscape Kite Festival, the Long Day’s Night Music Festival, and another amazing Frontier Days. The city is also gearing up for the Summer parks program, the Chautauqua Theatre Festival, and other highlight summer events.
“Today’s celebration allows us to share our excitement about this terrific country. But it also offers an opportunity to let community spirit shine,” Toles said.
Icasiana de Gala, Executive Director of the Newcomer Welcome Centre, was again invited to speak on behalf of the growing numbers of newcomers to the community. She highlighted that they are proud to be new Canadians, and share the goal of making Canada a greater nation.
“Of course coming here is not easy. We all go through a certain process, the process could be hard, or difficult, or expensive,” she explained. “Once here, we try to be the best that we can. “We are all here to be part of this great nation.”