WARMINGTON: Only in Canada would government alter its national flag to promote wokeness
Somebody should tell the government of Canada there is only one Canadian flag.
Perhaps Premier Doug Ford can make the call. He and his Ontario government got it right with their massive, traditional Canadian flag attached with help of cranes to Queen's Park this week. That's how you do that.
Maybe some inside the federal government need a lesson on what is a legal Canadian flag and what isn't. Regulations say it should be red on each end, white in the middle with a red maple leaf. Yet, for some reason on the @Canada X account with 1.1 million followers, a flag was posted with the red ends in rainbow colours which are synonymous with the Pride month of June.
But this doesn't mention Pride. And Pride Toronto doesn't seem to know anything about it. This was not them. It appears it was somebody within Global Affairs Canada.
'In Canada we know that diversity is our strength and we love to celebrate it!' it says. 'This #BeingYouDay, let it be a reminder to be authentically yourself and celebrate all the things that make you, YOU!'
Being You Day? What in the world is that?
Well, click on the hashtag and it will take you to a site which explains 'International Being You Day, on June 22, invites you to celebrate being … you. It's time to ditch the self-judgment and have gratitude for yourself. Today we invite you to explore what it means to truly be YOU beyond the projections of society and the need for perfection. It's your day to discover and acknowledge the beauty of you and your unique capabilities. It's also an invitation to celebrate everyone's differences.'
In this case it seems to celebrate desecrating Canada's flag. When I was in Afghanistan, I certainly didn't see the brave troops having alternative flags. They were proud of the one they were serving under.
Needless to say, many Canadians didn't like this new version.
'I'm pretty sure the Canadian flag already represents this. They didn't have to desecrate our flag,' said Ryan Gerritsen
William Vaughan Bedell wrote, 'Hey @Canada it is really inappropriate to deface the #MapleLeaf. It is incredible sad that the Gov't of Canada has such a lack of respect for our national flag.'
So what does the @Canada account run by the federal government have to say about it? They haven't responded to requests for comment.
'Side note, they turned off their comments,' added Gerritsen.
Prime Minister Mark Carney — who has certainly shown his love for Canada's traditions which included inviting the King for the throne speech and introducing the Canada Strong pass for the summer, plus by committing to rebuild Canada's proud military — may have to call his bureaucrats since he has been trying to bring Canada back in vogue himself from the leftover Trudeau staffers who seemed to hate the country.
They didn't appear to get the memo. Canada is back and Canada does not have varying versions of its flag.
Ford, meanwhile, has also been trying to signal this new time of patriotism – first by taking the wood covering away from Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, and with this cool, new flag.
'With Canada Day just around the corner, we've unveiled a giant Canadian flag to mark the occasion on the front of Queen's Park,' Ford posted to X. 'Let's all come together to celebrate our incredible country: The true north, strong and free!'
Sure there's big problems ahead and there should be debate on who's responsible and how to fix it. But there is no question there's still lots to celebrate.
The Score gets it. They pointed out on X how the last three major sports championships had a Canadian being named the most outstanding player.
'OH CANADA! For the first time in history, the reigning MLB, NBA and NHL MVPs in the Finals and Playoffs are all Canadian! Willie Mays World Series MVP: Freddie Freeman Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander NHL Conn Smythe Trophy: Sam Bennett.'
In the case of Hamilton's Gilgeous-Alexander, he wrapped himself in the proper Canadian flag when he celebrated with Oklahoma City Thunder fans at their parade. It's nice to see because at many of the demonstrations in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, we often see flags from everywhere but Canada.
Proud Canadian superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showed it's not hard to display Canadian patriotism.
The Canadian flag is the Canadian flag. It's iconic. Don't change it. Don't defile it. Celebrate it, as it is.
jwarmington@postmedia.com
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In past years, the People's March was scheduled on Pride Sunday, portraying itself as a non-corporate sponsored alternative. Tina Aguirre, director of the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, is a supporter of the People's March and said that event, as well as the Trans March on Pride Friday and Dyke March on Pride Saturday, 'are all strong indicators that not only do we still need to come together and celebrate, we also need to march because our rights keep getting taken away.' This year, the People's March was on June 19 and had an estimated 1,200 participants. Now, for the first time, it will also have its own contingent in the Pride Parade. 'I totally support S.F. Pride,' More said. 'We have the same goals, but we've gone about it in different ways. Now it's a mutual feeling about what's happening across the country, that we all need to work together.' For her part, Honey Mahogany, a local Democratic activist and drag performer, will host a stage at the Civic Center party this year with Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Mahogany called San Francisco a historic incubator for the queer movement and as such, 'we're used to having all of these factions that don't really coordinate or talk to each other. But it's my hope that we will start doing more coordinating and coalition building, and less exclusion and finger pointing.' That spirit of collaboration extends beyond Pride Weekend. Rebecca Rolfe, outgoing executive director of the SF LGBT Center, said she plans to march with her nonprofit's contingent in the parade. While she has noticed an increased demand for services at the center dealing with issues such as immigration status and proper gender on government IDs as well as 'a generalized increase in anxiety,' she's also seen an upswing in people interested in volunteering. 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