Flag Day still relevant to Canadians at High On Ice Festival

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The long weekend marks a very special national milestone – National Flag of Canada Day.

February 15th marks the 60th anniversary the country’s national flag was first flown on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.  It was first commemorated by the then Liberal government back in 1996.

But with growing dissension on the international stage between the country and the United States, the question of whether the country’s national identity was still important was answered by attendees at the opening ceremony of the High on Ice Winter Festival.

Blake Hedges of Fort St. John believed embracing our patriotism is “so important” amid all challenges.

“We have to embrace what Canada is,” said Hedges. “We all have to be together to celebrate our diversity.  It’s important to celebrate these kinds of events with much unknown in the future.”

The patriotism was echoed by volunteer Sandy Anderson. 

“We need to embrace that patriotism,” said Anderson.  “We should be proud to hoist our flag high up and raise it.”

Xander Biollo said celebrating Canadian national identity is vital in order to celebrate the differences of people.

“It’s about culture,” said Biollo.  “Most people [are] from a different part of the world.  Having the flag raised celebrates them as well.”

This comes as US President Donald Trump has called for the country to become the “51st State” and threatened to impose tarriffs as high as 25 per cent on steel and aluminum.

A joint statement from former prime ministers Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Chretien Paul Martin and Stephen Harper told Canadians to “show the world we are proud of our history and our country,” in a Canadian press story on February 11th.