Two councillors are against cancelling Canada Day festivities. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Canada Day

‘We are Canadians’: La Ronge council not united in cancellation of Canada Day events

Jun 23, 2021 | 2:43 PM

Not all members of La Ronge council were in favour of cancelling Canada Day celebrations.

During a special meeting last week, Coun. Hugh Watt and Coun. Joe Hordyski both voiced their opposition to a media release issued June 16 stating tri-community leadership were cancelling festivities in favour of National Indigenous Peoples Day. The decision was made out of respect and compassion for all those impacted by the recent discoveries of children’s remains at Kamloops B.C., Manitoba and Saskatchewan Indian Residential School sites.

“My family, our community, we’re in this together as a country and, yes, there have been horrific atrocities committed and not only in the country of Canada, but around the world and I strongly believe we still have an absolutely great country,” Watt said. “We’ve lived through some horrible events, but let’s celebrate Canada for what it truly means – a great country. Let’s celebrate Canada for the forefathers that fought in two world wars to give us our freedom and again, with all due respect to what has happened at these residential schools is a horrible event.”

Hordyski explained he agrees with Watt and he respects the band’s decision, but added community members have told him they would like Canada Day events to go ahead.

“I think we can incorporate some kind of ceremony or event to show our respect and honour what’s happened in the past, but to cancel it totally would be disrespect for people who fought for our country and the people in our community who want to celebrate patronage to this country,” Hordyski said. “It’s an important event. We are Canadians. I think we’ve got to respect that.”

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A resolution was ultimately passed at the special meeting by a five to two vote affirming last week’s media release with Hordyski and Watt voting against it. In their decision to pass it, the majority of council spoke about the history of colonization and the affects it had on Indigenous Peoples. They also talked about the need to be supportive when it comes to the town’s regional partners.

“I don’t feel comfortable celebrating,” Coun. Ryan Veteri said. “We need to do it together as a community and, right now, I don’t feel that the community can celebrate Canada Day together.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno