After divided reactions from the community and questions from around their own council table, Lac La Biche County will go ahead with fireworks to commemorate Canada Day. The decision from the majority of the county council was announced by the mayor just one day before the July 1 national holiday. A senior baseball game between a team from the Kikino Metis Settlement Saints and the Lac La Biche Dodgers will also be held during the day at the main ball diamond in Lac La Biche
On Wednesday, after weighing public feedback whether or not to move forward with Canada Day fireworks at McArthur Park, Lac La Biche County Mayor Omer Moghrabi shared some of the reasons behind council’s decision to continue the tradition.
The decision to continue activities — and the challenges around that decision — come after the recent discoveries of unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools in Kamloops, B.C. and Cowessess, Sask. Some online discussions have been split between celebrating Canada and recognizing historic atrocities. For some, continuing on with the celebration is unimaginable after recent reminders of Canada’s dark history, while others say the night lights display comes as a welcome reprieve after months of restrictions.
Moghrabi said what makes this decision difficult is that there are no correct answers.
“There are two sides to the equation, you can't really cancel the day that they have for Canada, but you have got to show some restraint and you have to include (the significance of our) Indigenous people, without a doubt,” he said, adding there are plans for council to discuss a future event in conjunction with nearby First Nation and Métis Settlements.
Lac La Biche County councillor and President of the Lac La Biche Mission Historical Society, George L’Heureux said like many others in the community he has mixed feelings about this year’s fireworks display — but ultimately supported council's decision to use the fireworks that had be purchased in February.
“Canada is a great place to live. People from all over the world want to come here and I understand that we want to celebrate the freedoms we have here,” L’Heureux acknowledged, adding that the atrocities carried out in the past should not be forgotten on this day.
Mission events go virtual
That is also why he is supportive of the decision this year to subdue Canada day events at the Mission historical site. Instead of the annual family events, games and church visits, the society’s members opted for an online display that showcases the history of the region.
The Mission site was home to one of Canada’s 125 government-operated and Catholic Church-run residential schools. The Mission school operated as an Indian residential school for five years in the late 1800s. The school continued as a community school until the 1960s.
A link to the historic presentation from the Mission for Canada Day can be found at www.lakelandtoday.ca
Orange on the field
Before the firework show kicks off, crowds are hoped to be making their way to McArthur Park to watch the Kikino Saints challenge the Lac La Biche Dodgers in a match traditionally played on the first of July. But instead of the traditional red and white attire worn on July first, both Moghrabi and L’Heureux say they expect to see a lot more people dressed in orange. The colour has become a universal representation of the residential schools, the systems victims, survivors and Indigenous awareness.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said L’Heureux.
He says the colour shows recognition of the dark history of the country but speaks hope for a future where similar atrocities never occur.
“We can’t forget what’s happened in the past,” he said. “I want my grandchildren's grandchildren to know what happened, that way hopefully nothing like this will happen again.”
Show starts at 11
The fireworks are slated to begin at 11 pm on Thursday, July 1.
The show is expected to light up the area near the lakeshore in McArthur Park. Show planners have also made the event available for people who would like to watch from vehicles and listed to a choreographed soundtrack to the show. The music will be available in a limited coverage area near McArthur Park at 106.9FM on the radio dial.
The twitter posting for the July 1 municipal fireworks. Social media posts have seen many comments about the need to celebrate Canada Day. Health orders removed
With provincial COVID-19 public health measures being removed the same day, the event is open to all residents. Face-masking and social distancing measures will not be in effect. The municipality did create a facemask policy that related to municipal buildings and vehicles, but it is only enacted during times the municipality is listed as an “enhanced” zone for active cases of the coronavirus. The policy did not apply to outdoor public spaces. Going into Canada Day, the municipality was reporting no active cases of COVID-19.
The first pitch for the annual baseball game between the Saints and Dodgers is expected at 6 p.m. at the Main ball diamond in Lac La Biche.
