Amid 51st state threats, some Winnipeggers say Canada Day feels more important this year

Lauren Scott · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 30, 2025 11:22 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

As the metropolis gears up for Canada Day celebrations connected Tuesday, immoderate Winnipeggers accidental they're feeling much patriotic this twelvemonth owed to predominant annexation threats coming from enactment successful the United States. 

Kerry LeBlanc told CBC News connected Monday that he's ever been arrogant to beryllium Canadian, but he's been adjacent much vocal since Donald Trump's recurring 51st authorities jabs. 

"I deliberation arsenic we get attacked by the U.S., we request to truly enslaved implicit our unity and unify our state implicit our flag," said LeBlanc, who was calved and raised successful Winnipeg. 

LeBlanc was astatine The Forks connected Monday with his person Brad McGregor, who was visiting from China. LeBlanc said helium plans to amusement McGregor The Leaf successful Assiniboine Park and the Interlake portion portion connected a roadworthy travel up to Gimli, Man.

"This volition beryllium the archetypal clip I've ever spent Canada Day successful Canada, and I'm precise excited astir it due to the fact that radical present are truthful patriotic and I'd similar to acquisition immoderate of that and articulation in," McGregor said. 

Some Winnipeggers told CBC News they similar to walk the vacation relaxing with a acold portion portion enjoying immoderate clip off. 

Keith Otto was astatine The Forks connected Monday doing conscionable that, having a portion with a radical of friends connected Monday. 

"I've decidedly thought a batch much this twelvemonth astir what it means to beryllium Canadian and I've been a batch much thankful that I americium Canadian," Otto said.

The ongoing tensions betwixt Canada and the U.S. were besides beforehand of caput for younger Canadians up of Tuesday's holiday.

"I deliberation this year, much than ever, Canada Day is going to beryllium ace important," said Yaara Perlov. "I deliberation Canada should truly amusement its independency this year."

While Aelil Weinberg-Bauer said helium apt won't spell retired to immoderate of the events planned successful the metropolis tomorrow, helium thinks Canada Day celebrations are important successful 2025. 

"I deliberation Canada Day is precise important now, particularly with what we're reasoning arsenic Canadians, due to the fact that we should person independence. I deliberation it's bully to observe Canada and what we person and to admit however beardown we are arsenic Canadians," Weinberg-Bauer said. 

Cheryl James said her household volition beryllium honouring their Indigenous civilization and accepted ceremonies connected Tuesday. 

"It's a assemblage holiday. It's not thing that I recognize. What we're doing is we're reclaiming our accepted practices," James said, adding she volition beryllium spending the time astatine location with her family. 

"I'm honouring our past and our history, and the spot that we person arsenic people," she said.

James said she was blessed to spot programming and installations astatine The Forks honouring National Indigenous Peoples Day.

The "Many Nations, One Heartbeat" celebration began June 21 and runs done Tuesday, with 11 days of programming highlighting antithetic pact regions successful Manitoba, with Elders sharing connection and land-based teachings from their nations.

Busy time expected astatine The Forks

Tineke Buiskool-Leeuwma, selling and communications advisor with The Forks, says the country is expected to beryllium packed connected Tuesday arsenic the historical tract arsenic it bridges its Indigenous Peoples Day programming with its Canada Day plans. 

"We're expecting a engaged day. Canada Day is ever a large time present astatine The Forks. It's been the gathering spot for implicit 6,000 years truthful radical thin to flock present connected July 1,"  Buiskool-Leeuwma said.

The Forks volition beryllium hosting escaped family-friendly events from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. CT.

Buiskool-Leeuwma said determination volition beryllium a skateboard demonstration, an all-day hoops tourney that volition see the Winnipeg Sea Bears successful the afternoon, carnal exhibits with FortWhyte Alive, dancing and euphony performances, and a handmade market, among different activities.

"People tin expect amusement each time long," Buiskool-Leeuwma said.

Buiskool-Leeuwma is asking that Winnipeggers permission their cars astatine location if they program to caput to The Forks connected Tuesday. 

The afloat programme for Canada Day celebrations is disposable connected The Forks' website.