July 1 is Canada’s 148th birthday. It’s a momentous occasion, but in the usual Canadian style, we tend to sometimes celebrate it rather half-heartedly.
Here in Langley, the longtime community Canada Day celebration has bit the dust. It started out at Langley Airport, moved to McLeod Athletic Park and ended with last year’s event at Willoughby Community Park.
However, there is plenty to do this year in Langley. Events at Fort Langley, where there has always been some Canada Day activity, have been expanded. There will also be an event at Willoughby Community Park, co-sponsored by JR FM and the Township, featuring an array of country music performers.
However, there will not be any fireworks this year.
The changes in Langley are due to purely local circumstances, but there are similarities to the national mood.
Canadians are proud of their country and its many achievements, as could be seen Saturday when Canada played its final game in the Women’s World Cup of soccer. Yet at the same time, there is a sense of unease in the midst of 2015, with the economy sluggish, and the future uncertain for many people and businesses. There is also a federal election looming, and it is very unclear what the final result of that will be. It could be a minority government, or less likely, a majority government — and any one of the three main parties has a chance to win.
Nonetheless, these are simply moments which will pass, in a country that has lasted for 148 years and endured many significant challenges. Canada is a great place to live, and it’s well worth celebrating today.