Tale of two Canada Days: celebration for some, remembrance for others

It’s a tale of two Canadas: while some will celebrate the nation’s birthday on July 1, others will be reflecting on where we go from here.

“Canada Day means opportunity,” said Latoya Belfon, a best-selling author and publisher. “For me, it’s quite different. It means opportunity, it means family, it means journey, it means my immigration story, just diversity, and multiculturalism.

Belfon immigrated to Canada with her parents from Grenada in 1996. Her story is one that so many can relate to. Her parents left everything they knew behind in order to create a better future for their children.

Latoya Belfon. (Photo Courtesy: Latoya Belfon)

Latoya Belfon. (Photo Courtesy: Latoya Belfon)

“My parents migrated here and of course, as anyone’s immigration story, it’s for new opportunities,” she said. “For joining with your family and it’s just for a better life. It was that sort of beacon of hope for all of us that coming here would present more opportunities for myself, for my brothers, and for my family.

“So it was always a symbol of hope, a symbol of the newness of combining our families together and taking charge of that opportunity we have here, to make a better life for ourselves.”

RELATED: Some Canadians reconsidering meaning of nation’s flag

While celebrating, it’s important to remember those whose families were here long before any of us arrived, says Indigenous healer Asha Frost.

“I think that our country needs to unravel all of the colonial harm and trauma that they have done to Indigenous people and people of colour,” said Frost, who is also an author. “I think that they need to examine how they have not followed through on the truth and reconciliation agreements they made and where they are just meeting those agreements in the ways that they promised.”

Asha Frost (Photo Credit: Asha Frost)

Asha’s connection to the land and her people runs deep.

“All my ancestors are here so the spirits of their hearts, their medicine, wisdom, their knowledge is literally beneath my feet so I have a lot of love and connection that exists here in so-called Canada,” she added. “On the other side, beneath my feet is also the violence that has been inflicted on Indigenous people and continues to be inflicted on Indigenous people to this day.

So I stand with both those truths in my hands.”

While Canada might be a land of opportunity and hope for those who immigrated here, it is also an important time for reflection on the history of our land.