Calgary celebrates Canada Day as province moves to Stage 3
It’s open for business, open for summer and open for Canada Day parades.
“Thank you Albertans, thanks to your diligence, we are leading Canada as the first province in Canada that is fully open,” said Premier Jason Kenney at a Canada Day celebration unlike any other.
Kenney rolled up to the southeast Calgary community of Parkland in his blue pick-up truck waving, smiling and hugging Calgarians out to celebrate the nation’s birthday as well as the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in the province.
Kenney announced that as of Thursday, 73 per cent of Albertans have received at least one jab.
The Hudson family enjoyed the parade from the roadside, thankful to be taking in events once again.
“We’re just so excited to come do something on Canada Day now that we’re open,” said Laura Hudson.
“I’ve been at home with little kids the whole time, so this is so fun.”
Josh Hudson says he’s excited to spend the day with family.
“Celebrating Canada Day and being out as a family and doing things and doing, traditions it's just a happy time,” he said.
Calgarians celebrate Canada Day, July 1, 2021
A few hundred people attended the event, including many UCP politicians. Tanya Fir, jobs minister Doug Schweitzer and health minister Tyler Shandro.
ANTI-RESTRICTION PROTESTERS
Before arriving at the Parkland Community Association, Shandro was verbally attacked by a group of anti-restriction protesters, with his wife and young sons present.
He says his family was left a little shaken.
“There’s some anxiety on that,” said Shandro.
“For them to hear people believing some of the misinformation about vaccines is unfortunate, and the way that it was expressed today.”
Shandro quickly shifted the focus on celebrating the province’s reopen plan.
“This is a day to focus on celebrating Stage 3, celebrating family and that's exactly what I’m going to do today,” he said.
FIREWORKS
The City of Calgary will also be hosting fireworks with a few modifications, in light of recent recoveries of remains of indigenous children at residential school sites.
A moment of silence will be held to recognize the children who died and those who have not been recovered.
The city also says that the Calgary Tower and McMahon Stadium will light up orange to honour the unmarked graves at 10.p.m.
Events are also taking place at Eau Claire and Heritage Park.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.