Let's be thoughtful about how we celebrate.
It is important that we as a city have discussions about how and why we celebrate Canada. The City of Calgary’s Arts and Culture team recently made the decision to hold a lower-altitude pyrotechnic show at Fort Calgary on Canada Day in response to several challenges. This news came to the public and Council as a surprise, as neither the public nor Council had been involved in the decision-making process.
Many Calgarians, myself included, travel from across the city to our many beautiful lookouts to celebrate our own hopes and beliefs for what Canada is and can be. Traditionally, Canada Day has not been a day of learning, but rather a day of celebration. As we honour our histories in full, how Canadians commemorate this day is growing and changing, and Calgarians want to be involved in this discussion. There are some great questions that have arisen from this discussion. However, the decision to hold a smaller event has been met with frustration because of a lack of public input.
City Administration has been receiving a great deal of feedback from Calgarians over the last few days, and I support Administration’s decision to add an aerial fireworks display to this year's Canada Day celebrations.
Many have expressed interest in more detail about some of the challenges that were considered. I can offer a few points of reflection:
Devin Dreeshen at a Donald Trump election night event in New York City on November 8, 2016.
(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Many have tried to delay and even stop the Green Line - no matter who it helps and who it serves. The Green Line is too important. We cannot delay it until it becomes unaffordable.
Today's June 26, 2024 Community Development Committee included a Response to the Noise Policy Notice of Motion and a Progress Update on Addressing Noisy Vehicles and Community Traffic Safety.