BOW VALLEY – Canada Day will have a different look in the Bow Valley this year.
The towns of Banff and Canmore will each have their respective events, though the COVID-19 pandemic will see it be more low-key than previous years. The two municipalities will also have an emphasis on Indigenous culture and history.
The decision was made following the recent unmarked graves discovered on former residential schools at the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation in British Columbia and the Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan.
“With the terrible stories coming out of locations with children being treated so terribly in residential schools, it’s a difficult for all of us across the country to talk about celebrating our country,” Canmore Mayor John Borrowman said.
Across the country, there’s been calls by members of the public to either cancel or modify the way municipalities celebrate the annual holiday.
Borrowman said the Town had heard from residents on holding festivities as well as from those who are new to the country and wish to celebrate the new opportunities they have in the region.
He said in recent years the town has reached out to the Stoney Nakoda First Nation to improve relationships and make Indigenous people feel welcome in the community as well as thanked members of the Stoney Nakoda for their help.
“I think the moderate approach we’re taking to having some events, I think that’s a reasonable approach for a municipality like Canmore. … We have an improving relationship with Stoney Nakoda and we want them to feel welcome in Canmore,” Borrowman said.
The Town of Canmore is asking people to wear orange on Canada Day instead of the traditional red to help recognize the lives lost at residential schools. The Barracks on Main Street and run by the Canmore Museum have a tipi with interpretive programming between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday’s to Monday’s.
The Canada Day concerts in Canmore will each start with land acknowledgements and are encouraging residents to discuss Canadian history, particularly the relationships with First Nations. Canmore also installed land acknowledgements in their public buildings.
There will also be self-guided tours available for a geocache adventure, a Larch Island story map tour and Hot Wheels of Canmore bike decorating competition.
In Banff, statements of healing will given by Stoney Nakoda elders, community and youth leaders at 10:30 a.m. in Central Park. The town will also have a Canada Day story time from the Banff Public Library, the Farmer’s Market will be at Central Park and pop-up artists will be throughout the community.
There will also be conversations on Indigenous culture at Central Park from 1 to 5 p.m. and the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be posted on the display window at the Bear Street parkade.
“The Town of Banff is facilitating space in the community for continuing the journey of healing and reconciliation,” read the Town of Banff website on their Canada Day events. “July 1 is an opportunity to continue an important conversation about our shared past and future.”
For more information, people can visit: https://banff.ca/CanadaDay and https://bit.ly/CanmoreCanadaDay.
