Canada – the home of hockey, maple syrup and a selfie-prone prime minister – has marked its 150th birthday with concerts and citizenship ceremonies. But a history of indigenous mistreatment meant not everyone celebrated.
Despite heavy rain, Canadians turned out across the country to mark the country’s 150th birthday with outdoor concerts, citizenship ceremonies and a royal visit by Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau kicked off the celebrations in the capital, Ottawa, speaking in front of the thousands of revelers on Parliament Hill.
“Canada is a country made strong not in spite of our differences but because of them,” Trudeau said. “We don’t aspire to be a melting pot – indeed, we know true strength and resilience flows through Canadian diversity.”
Indigenous protests
The anniversary was not without controversy, particularly among First Nations who noted Canada’s history of mistreatment of indigenous people.
On Thursday, activists erected a teepee on Parliament Hill on Thursday in protest, and on Saturday indigenous protesters marched through the streets of Toronto, some holding the Canadian national flag upside down.
Trudeau met with the activists in Ottawa on Friday.
Saturday was the 150th anniversary of the founding of the self-governing state. On July 1, 1867, the British North America Act united the British provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario into the Dominion of Canada.