La Ronge council wants neighbouring communities to join the festivities on Canada Day. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

national holiday

Fireworks, parade and other Canada Day festivities approved by La Ronge council

Feb 25, 2022 | 5:00 PM

Canada Day celebrations will occur in La Ronge this summer complete with a children’s festival, fireworks and a parade.

The decision to host the festivities was made at a regular La Ronge council meeting earlier this week in a six to one vote. Coun. Viviana Ruiz-Arcand decided not to move forward with celebrations, opting instead to wait for direction from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB), which could come as soon as March 8.

Town council will also be inviting neighbouring communities and groups to join to encompass a culturally-appropriate celebration.

“The Canadian government has done and continues to do hurtful things that have caused divisiveness within our country and that’s not right,” Coun. Matthew Klassen said. “I’m very, very against what some things that they’ve done, but that doesn’t affect that we’re all Canadian. It doesn’t matter ethnicity or social economic status, it doesn’t matter. We are all Canadians and I think we need to celebrate that.”

Canada Day celebrations were cancelled in the tri-communities in 2021 and instead Air Ronge, La Ronge and the LLRIB co-hosted National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. A statement was released announcing the festivities were cancelled out of respect and compassion for all those impacted by the discovery of children’s remains at former residential school sites in Canada.

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Coun. Ryan Veteri explained he wants to acknowledge that history, but he also wants to recognize Canada Day as well.

“Do we keep putting off the celebration of Canada Day? Can we not celebrate both?” He asked. “I think council really needs to look at that.”

Coun. Hordyski was also in favour of hosting Canada Day events with some kind of ceremony or recognition of the nation’s past.

“I don’t think we need to separate people. I think we need to bring people together, especially after these two years of COVID,” he said. “I think it’s important we come together as the tri-community and celebrate what we have as a country here.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno