Landmark Winnipeg Canada Day celebrations rebranding to 'New Day at The Forks' draws mixed response
Instead of the traditional Canada Day party, The Forks is planning a reimagined 'New Day' event this July 1 – a move that has been met with support and criticism in Winnipeg.
The polarizing issue is drawing comments from many politicians, including one former federal cabinet minister who played a vital role in the creation of The Forks.
'New Day at The Forks' is what the July 1 festivities at The Forks are being called this year. It is a reimagined approach to the day, aiming to provide a welcoming space for all communities in the wake of discoveries of unmarked graves at residential school sites across the country last year.
The Forks said it made the decision based on roundtable discussions with Indigenous peoples, newcomers and youth about the future of Canada Day celebrations.
"It did give us a chance to reflect and to have some time to do some consultation to sort of look at what our Canada Day had looked like in the past and what it could look like in the future," Clare MacKay, vice president of strategic initiatives and executive director of The Forks Foundation, previously told CTV News.
But not all are sold on the change.
Lloyd Axworthy, a former Winnipeg MP and federal cabinet minister, played an important role in the creation of The Forks. He said with the challenges the country is facing, there hasn't been a more important time to come together to celebrate Canada Day.
"This is a time where it's really important that we still gather together and just sometimes to celebrate who we are, where we've been, and also what kind of challenges we have to meet in the future," he said.
On Monday, mayoral candidate Jenny Motkaluk tweeted in response to the changes at The Forks that she will be attending "actual Canada Day parties."
Motkaluk was unavailable for an interview Tuesday.
In a statement to CTV News, The Forks said Canada Day is not cancelled.
"In fact, we are adding more content, more stages, and more places to gather to host an inclusive, fun day for all," the statement reads. "It seems that this has been lost in the message that some people are getting, and that is unfortunate. Programming is focused on daytime activities and entertainment that is participatory, celebratory, or reflective depending on where it is on site."
Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman said he will be attending the 'New Day' at The Forks.
"I had a chance to connect with The Forks earlier today and I'm going to be going to The Forks and celebrating Canada Day," Bowman said. "I'm also going to be taking time out to reflect on what we need to do as Canadians to continue to build bridges between each other and to the future."
Premier Heather Stefanson said she'll be going to multiple events on July 1. She said while Manitobans need to recognize the country's challenges and talk about reconciliation, there are some people who have never seen a traditional Canada Day.
"There's also many new Canadians that come to Canada, that come to Manitoba, that want to celebrate coming to Manitoba and coming to Canada," she said. "So I think for those in our community, it's very important that we celebrate Canada Day."
As for Axworthy, he said he has talked to senior officials at The Forks and would like to see changes in the future.
"I think it could have been something that really incorporated some of the things they wanted to do but without replacing it," he said.
CTV News reached out to numerous Indigenous organizations including the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and Southern Chiefs' Organization, but has not heard back.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Saskatchewan households will continue to receive carbon tax rebate: Trudeau
Households in Saskatchewan will continue to receive Canada Carbon Rebate payments, despite the province refusing to remit the federal carbon price on natural gas, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday.
'It's just so hard to let it go': Umar Zameer still haunted by death of Toronto police officer
'We hoped for this day, but we were scared that it would not never ever come because it took so long.' That’s what Umar Zameer, the man recently acquitted in the death of a Toronto police officer, told CTV News Toronto in a sit-down interview on Tuesday.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.