FEBRUARY 15 was National Flag of Canada Day. Residents and members of the Lakeshore Village BIA install a new flag. Photo by Tom Godfrey.
February 15 was National Flag of Canada Day.
The day is celebrated wildly from coast-to-coast.
In New Toronto some area residents braved the cold to remove and install a huge new Canadian flag at a pole at Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Eighth Street, near Fire Station 435.
The event this year was low-keyed to prevent a large group of people from attending in contravention of COVID-19 guidelines, organizers say.
Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, of the Lakeshore Village BIA, began a campaign years ago for the Canadian flag to be honoured. The campaign snowballed.
“The greatest symbol we have as a country is our Canadian flag,” he says. “It is one of our most important days that we celebrate.”
Area resident Matt Lozinski says he was proud to be helping to install the new flag.
“I am a Canadian citizen and I am proud of our flag,” Lozinski smiles.
There were a number of passerbys who stopped by to say hello, ‘ Happy Flag Day’ or take photos.
The Canadian flag was raised for the first time on Parliament Hill on February 15, 1965. On that same day in 1996, National Flag of Canada Day was declared.
“Our national flag is a symbol that unites all Canadian and reflects the common values we hold so dear, equality, diversity and inclusion, according to the federal government’s website.