The Summerland Legion will host Canada Day celebrations on Tuesday, July 1.
The event will begin at 11 a.m. and include a flag-raising ceremony, speeches by dignitaries, a barbecue with cake and face painting and sparkle tattoos for children.
At present, the events are planned for Memorial Park in Summerland, but because of the construction work on Wharton Street, near the park, the location may change, said John Dorn of the Summerland Legion.
July 1 marks Canada鈥檚 158th birthday and the day is associated with patriotism and national pride.
Dorn said international news this year, including the tariff war with the United States and the U.S. president鈥檚 repeated comments about annexing Canada have changed the significance of the day this year.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 going to be a bit more important than in the past,鈥� Dorn said.
He added that displaying flags this year will have a different meaning than in 2022, in the aftermath of the truck convoy protest. That year, large flags were displayed on vehicles and at homes as a show of support for the anti-vaccine protests. As a result, Dorn said some in Canada were reluctant to show national pride.
鈥淭his year, anyone displaying a Canadian flag is displaying patriotism,鈥� he said.
