The Village of Pemberton (VOP) won’t be observing Canada Day with a parade, fireworks or large community gatherings this year.
Instead, locals are being invited to mark the occasion by participating in a scaled-down roster of four socially distanced activities hosted by the VOP’s recreation services team from July 1 to 5.
Included is the “Great Canadian Fitness Challenge,” a colouring challenge, a maple leaf art project, and a recreation guide photography challenge.
Instructions are available on the VOP's website, and prizes provided by local businesses will be offered to winners.
Pemberton council opted to go ahead with the planned list of low-key activities during a special council meeting held virtually on Tuesday, June 29. The meeting was held to address concerns surrounding the appropriateness of celebrating a national holiday in light of the recent discoveries of well over 1,000 unmarked graves at former residential schools in B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba, out of respect for Canada’s Indigenous communities.
To that end, councillors agreed that the family-friendly activities shouldn’t be construed as celebrations this year and shared their intention to release additional messaging outlining the need for solemn reflection.
“Celebrating Canada Day this year seems inappropriate. Celebrating seems inappropriate; the activities that we’re talking about seem like kids’ activities—something to do on a hot summer weekend,” said Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman during the meeting.
He added, “Like others, we’ve chosen not to actually celebrate Canada Day this year, but to use it as a day of reflection and acknowledgement, and a day to consider how we can move forward as a nation.”
