Celebrating Canada Day with Stories of Belonging, Diversity, and Community

Photo courtesy of Monique Burke

Celebrating Canada Day is about more than fireworks and festivities — it is about the stories that bring us together. It is a moment to celebrate diversity, reflect on journeys of belonging, and honour the many cultures and communities that shape our nation.

We asked some of our board members to share their most memorable Canada Day experiences, reminding us how storytelling connects us across backgrounds and generations.

Patlee and Brian Creary remember their first Canada Day in 2003 as visiting officers from the Jamaica Defence Force. Brian was on assignment in Canada, and Patlee was on vacation. Invited to celebrations at Island Park in Portage la Prairie, they unexpectedly found themselves seated in the front row with the Mayor and other local officials. The next day, their photo was in the local paper with the headline “Canada’s newest citizens celebrate Canada Day” — a moment that sparked laughter (and some explaining to their commanders back home!). It was a memorable introduction to Canadian hospitality and celebration.

SJ Nesbitt celebrates Canada Day in Lac du Bonnet every year with family, enjoying the annual fair, rides, swimming in the lake, and spectacular fireworks. The gathering draws people from near and far, and SJ’s extended family always joins in, making it a tradition full of warmth, connection, and joyful memories.

Lisa Houtkooper shared how one Canada Day spent on a canoe trip through Nopiming Provincial Park stands out. Surrounded by peaceful lakes and good friends, she felt grateful to celebrate in nature, embracing the beauty of the land and the sense of calm and appreciation it brought.

Rachel Smith fondly remembers attending the Osborne Street Festival year after year, first with her parents and later with friends, enjoying the sidewalk shops and, as an adult, relaxing on bar patios. She also discovered her husband had the same tradition, playing frisbee nearby when they first met. Although the festival was halted during the COVID pandemic, the happy memories live on.

Monique Burke reflected on her youngest child’s very first Canada Day, celebrating at the Ghana Union’s annual picnic surrounded by aunties, uncles, and cousins. Her one-year-old proudly wore a Canada Day onesie that honoured both Canadian and Ghanaian heritage. For Monique, the day was a powerful reminder that “it takes a village to raise a child,” and a beautiful expression of belonging and unity. (Monique’s photo of her son in his Canada Day onesie is featured above.)

This Canada Day, we celebrate all of these moments—big and small—that make us feel connected, included, and proud to call this place home. In sharing these memories, each of our board members found a piece of themselves reflected in the stories of others, creating points of connection, inclusiveness, and a shared vision for a future where everyone belongs.

Whether you’re gathering with friends and family, enjoying quiet moments in nature, or sharing your own stories with the community, we wish you a joyful, safe, and meaningful Canada Day.

Happy Canada Day from all of us at StoryBridge!