A Skyhawk member glides by the Peace Tower during Canada Day events in Ottawa on July 1. Lars Hagberg/The Canadian Press
Canadians across the country celebrated Canada Day largely unhindered by pandemic restrictions for the first time in three years, with some taking the holiday as an opportunity to revive anti-government protests in Ottawa.
The biggest events took place in the nation’s capital, where families and anti-government protesters gathered in Ottawa. The official celebration was held at LeBreton Flats due to the renovation of Parliament Hill and included a visit from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and musical performances.
The city had braced for protests that threatened to disrupt festivities for residents and visitors, with police blocking roads and maintaining a heavy presence throughout the day in an attempt to prevent demonstrations from taking hold, as they did in the winter.
A day earlier, four people were arrested after Ottawa police said one of their officers was choked during an altercation with protesters outside the National War Memorial.
On Friday, the prime minister called for unity amid a potentially divisive day, using his official Canada Day address to call for a deepening commitment to Canadian values such as hope and kindness.
Mr. Trudeau said the date marking Canada’s 155th anniversary of Confederation offers an opportunity to embrace the values the maple leaf represents, adding that the flag is more than a symbol.
“It is also a promise – a promise of opportunity, a promise of safety for those fleeing violence and war, and a promise of a better life,” he said.
In an apparent reference to the treatment of Indigenous people, including in residential schools, the prime minister spoke of Canada’s “historic mistakes” in his official holiday message, saying that while we can’t change history, we can work to build better future.
Outside Parliament Hill, the crowd was a mix of protesters wrapped in the Canadian flag or waving anti-Trudeau banners and visitors celebrating the holiday. However, in the late afternoon, protesters began marching down Wellington Street and across much of the city, creating tension among some residents. They chanted “freedom” and “hold the line” as they marched down Wellington Street outside Parliament, familiar sounds to residents who endured the protests that jammed the city center for weeks in February.
Ottawa Bylaws and Regulatory Affairs tweeted that since 8 a.m. on June 29 and in relation to Canada Day events and demonstrations in the city, they have issued 284 parking tickets, towed 79 vehicles, issued three tickets for encumbering a highway and two tickets for unlicensed mobile refreshment vehicles.
While many who gathered outside Parliament were angered by the federal government’s vaccine mandates, others were there because they had other grievances against Mr. Trudeau’s government, were curious or just wanted to be on Parliament Hill for Canada Day.
Joe Emmons and his wife, Tanya, of Digby, North Carolina, were in Ottawa visiting their son and stopped by Wellington Street on Friday. Mr Emmons said they were not part of the protest but were watching it and worried about the future of the country.
Sunshine Village, Alta. is open for summer skiing and snowboarding for the first time since 1991
“The government doesn’t seem to be doing anything to keep Canada together,” Mr. Emmons said. “When your leader comes out and calls people misogynists and racists; I have family who are unvaccinated doctors and I know they are not racist misogynists.’
Mr Emmons was referring to comments Mr Trudeau made last year on the campaign trail when he said “Yes, there is a small fringe element in this country who are angry, who don’t believe in science, who lash out with racism , misogynistic attacks.”
Ms Emmons said the division was hurting the country. The couple said they are vaccinated but have relatives who are not.
Some other celebrations around the country had no protesters, such as Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square, where a smaller group of people and families gathered. Many were dressed in red and white and a handful of Canadian flags were present.
It was a hot and humid day for the city’s first in-person Canada Day celebration in three years, and visitors said they came out just to walk around and enjoy the good weather over the long weekend.
“It’s really good to see people out again,” said Bethany Stevenson, 36.
“But I expected there to be more people – maybe it’s the weather.”
Elsewhere in the city, organizers had to cancel a fireworks show in the city’s east after a supplier said it would not be able to fulfill its order on Thursday
In a news release, the city said it worked through the night and was able to find alternative suppliers for its fireworks at three other locations.
In Vancouver, the city’s Harbor Center said it was preparing for thousands of visitors throughout the day. The event at Canada Place in downtown Vancouver featured musical performances, including sets from local local acts.
However, organizers said they decided not to hold fireworks this year due to rising costs.
In Banff, skiers and snowboarders were able to celebrate on the slopes thanks to heavy winter snowfall, which led to Banff Sunshine Village opening its ski slopes in the summer for the first time since 1991.
Spokeswoman Kendra Scurfield said skiers were enjoying the warm weather with a DJ set that featured an all-Canadian set of songs.
“We’ve seen people come from all over the country,” Ms Scurfield said.
“People are excited to celebrate our nation in the beautiful Canadian Rockies and in the snow.”
With reports from Jake Kivank and The Canadian Press
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