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Community comes together for Canada Day

Jul 2, 2016 | 12:19 PM

On Canada’s 149th birthday, mayors, musicians and residents of the Battlefords came together to celebrate the nation.

Despite the overcast weather, over 1,000 people participated in the celebrations on July1, which included local music, history tours, wagon rides and a beer garden, as well as fireworks at the end of the evening.

Battleford Mayor, Derek Mahon addressed the crowd and told them he had participated in the Fort Battleford citizenship ceremony last week, where 47 people became brand new Canadians.

“It was really rewarding to hear their thoughts of what it meant to them to be a Canadian. It was really interesting to hear their perspective,” he said.

He also elaborated on what it meant to him personally, to be a Canadian citizen.

“I was born here and Canada is what it is, and I’m very happy to be able to live here and enjoy it with everybody,” Mahon said, adding, “It’s a real pleasure to be a part of Canada and celebrate it with all the people.”

North Battleford Mayor Ian Hamilton said the foresight of the forefathers made Canada the country it is today.

“(I’m) grateful on a daily basis to these people. Maybe they didn’t see it from coast-to-coast, but they created the opportunity for us to live in the nation we now know is Canada,” he said.

Hamilton also spoke of his experience welcoming new citizens into the country.

“It is a humbling and joyful experience to witness the joy and the pride these new Canadians take in becoming citizens of Canada- something we enjoy just by our birthright,” said Hamilton.

Dale Swistun provided the tunes for the day. The event was capped off by the unveiling of a new art installation of nine paintings at the Fort Battleford Tourist Centre by Metis artist, Ray Kieghly.

 

Colleen A.J. Smith is battlefordsNOW’s education, First Nations and arts and culture reporter. She can be reached at colleen.smith@jpbg.ca or tweet her @ColleenAJSmith. Concerns regarding this story can be addressed to News Director Geoff Smith at 306-446-6397.