HAPPY CANADA DAY MOTHERFUCKERS

I’ve got the same with a good chunk of my friends. “I can’t/won’t celebrate… yadda yadda”. And while I’m totally down with the sentiment and the cause - I can’t remember a time where I’ve been more relived I live here and can call myself a Canadian.

... they are still celebrating having a long weekend, aren't they?

Only lived here a few months but that there is any kind of reflection on indigenous peoples at all let alone on the national holiday is impressive(?) for me, a dumb American. Not sure what all that reflecting will amount to but it’s marginally better than south of the border.

Anyhow saw a Every Child Matters protest on my way back from a ride along Queen’s Quay and folks seemed very supportive of it except - surprise - one loud older white fella who was shouting at them to get out of the street. At first I was uhh is this some all lives matter shit wtf but then put it together.

This is by far the shittiest Canada Day I've seen in Ottawa. Because convoy, festivities (if we can still call them that) were moved to two locations, on either side of the river (i.e. on the Ontario side and Quebec side), with security all over downtown directing everyone as to where to go and how to go there. Once I got to Lebreton Flats park, there was a long line to pass through security checks, with signs indicating protocols including the maximum allowed size for flags or cardboard signs and permitted materials. We had to go through a full body scan and then once I got there, it mostly just seemed like a glorified food court, with stalls for Tim Hortons, Smoke's Poutine, Beavertails, etc. There were bands at scheduled times, though not when I went down. I got Beavertails (which I could get in the Market any day) and left. Also, for no discernible reason, "Up Where We Belong" was playing on a loop the entire time I was there, from when I got in line until I left.

What makes Canada Day fun is being able to freely wander around downtown to the various events, booths, performances, free museums, etc. Maybe there was some intel about a legitimate threat but this all seems excessive to me. I hate the convoy as much as anyone but they're hardly 9/11 or the October Crisis, at least so far.

Otoh we listened to A Foot in Coldwater and ate good poutine I picked up yesterday.

"Up Where We Belong" in honour of Buffy Sainte-Marie, Indigenous Canadian?

P sure indigenous Canadians have written more than one song!

A picture of the signs at the security checkpoint. It really seemed unreal to me: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Ug2wMBv8UtjaNo5ogP4wSELCtETo66QHkoxg32awHnf1KZNkgLq8zCoKkKjp373Zl&id=659076577

Better resolution: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159966018331578&set=a.65416941577¬if_id=1656715054091848¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif