'God bless this country.' Calgary residents reflect on how Canada Day feels different
CBC News created a pop-up speakers' corner at the Seton library branch in south Calgary last week. When we asked library patrons how they were feeling, the most common response was one of pride.
Christine Griffith said she's heading into Canada Day remembering the sense of unity that came in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.
"Just seeing everyone really come together and support Canadians, and buy Canadian, just seeing that pride. It felt really good," she said.
Griffith is an artist and stay-at-home mom. For her, Canada Day has always been a time for family — BBQs and fireworks while growing up in Ontario. Now she's trying to share that with her daughter by teaching her the national anthem and continuing to be conscientious about Canadian brands as she shops.
"I think it's still strong," she said. "We keep it strong in our family."
CBC News spoke with dozens of people at the library, inviting them to write their thoughts for a public display and talk through what's influencing those feelings.
Several people talked about the tariffs and how they are still expressing their support for Canada by buying Canadian whenever possible. For others, world events were top of mind — the tariff threats or the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and recently Iran. In light of these, some patrons spoke about being grateful for security and peace in Canada.
Natali Maxwell is a Canadian who is originally from Peru. She said for her, the wars and also economic challenges here at home are weighing heavily and make this Canada Day feel different.
"People are fighting for a piece of land.… People are fighting for a lot of things. There's no more love," she said.
"But Canada is a strong country. If we stay united, everything will be good. It's just, God bless this country. I'm praying."
For Madelene Bustard, provincial politics were top of mind and are making this Canada Day emotional for her.
"Canada Day is feeling very different to me this year," she said. "I have grave concerns about [Premier] Danielle Smith and her sparking this separation talk. I find it gross and not in our best interest."
"I feel like it's going to be the most emotional Canada Day I've ever had. Like, I have a military family and like I've always been such a proud Canadian. But now, I don't want my boys in the military. I don't know what's going on in this world. And I feel like if we separate, that's just going to put us more at risk of what's going on in the world."
There were others with conflicted feelings around Canada Day, for both personal and political reasons.
One woman wrote about the memories she has celebrating with her daughter and grandchildren, which are especially poignant this year because they recently moved away.
A new immigrant wrote about celebrating his first Canada Day, and a man who immigrated more than a decade ago from the Philippines wrote about Canada being a place of both joy and struggle. He retired recently, he told CBC, but can't actually retire. He's still driving for a delivery app on the side.
"Canada Day is good and not so," he wrote. "Overall Canada is a good place to live. Happy Canada Day."
A woman said she doesn't celebrate Canada Day because she really wants to see more progress toward truth and reconciliation with Indigenous communities first. Several others said the cost of living, especially since the pandemic hit, makes life much harder and makes it more difficult to feel like celebrating.
Jonathan MacDonald grew up in a small, close-knit community in the Maritimes. He said he feels like the country has grown and changed. Immigration has brought diversity but also, he feels, isolation and he doesn't feel the same shared understanding and togetherness that he did before.
Others had more straight-forward emotions around Canada Day. Several kids wrote about Stampede breakfasts and drew pictures of fireworks. One man wrote "fly your flag" and said he made a special effort this year to buy flags early and do just that.
Michelle Anderson was listening to CBC's live updates from Seton on The Homestretch and knew this pop-up was at Seton. She stopped in and said reading all these notes made her think about when her dad moved the family here from Ireland 40 years ago.
She sat down to write her thoughts: "Canada is a short word with a long meaning — hope, friends, health, open spaces, joy, pride and peace."
Then after a bit, she came back to add: "Home is also a word that is short with a long meaning."
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