Canadian Flag (Elliott Knopp/meadowlakeNOW staff)

By Elliott Knopp

Canada Day Cancellation

Meadow Lake, Flying Dust First Nation cancel Canada Day celebrations

Jun 25, 2021 | 5:13 PM

Canada Day is going to have a different look and feel to it this year as the historic date is set to receive an approach unique from any other year in memory.

In a post on social media on Thursday, the Meadow Lake & District Chamber of Commerce announced there will not be a local Canada Day celebration this year. The decision was shared with the public on the same day the country recovered 751 unmarked graves for Indigenous children and adults who died at the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Cowessess First Nation, Saskatchewan.

The development comes shortly after the initial findings of 215 bodies of children in another residential school in Kamloops, B.C. flooded media outlets across the country.

Mayor Merlin Seymour commented on the Chamber’s decision to forego this year’s celebration.

“Our thought and prayers go out to everyone involved in their time of mourning,” Seymour commented. “The Meadow Lake & District Chamber of Commerce was spearheading the Canada Day celebrations, so ultimately, it was their decision. They did ask for a little input from us and Flying Dust, and this is the outcome.”

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In the social media post, the chamber cited the decision was made to recognize the tragedies that occurred at residential school institutions out of respect for all Indigenous people.

All of the events and activities scheduled for Canada Day have been deferred to the 8^th of July where the community is welcomed to gather for a community summer celebration. Flying Dust First Nation is also welcoming guests to join them for a mini powwow on July 2 at the Flying Dust arbor.

meadowlakeNOW reached out to the Chamber for further comments on the decision, but did not receive a response at the time of publishing.

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elliott.knopp@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ElliottKnopp