Originally from 31 countries around the globe, they now have something in common.
They're officially Canadians.
More than 70 Winnipegers kicked off their Canada Day celebrations by becoming Canadians at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People yesterday.
 |
|
Erin Crawley (left), Chloe Taylor, Samantha Halas and Kim Yee were all ears -- and horns -- for Canada Day at a street party on Banning Street.
|
"I feel so excited to live in a free land. It is so different from Africa," said Mwinji Kaonga, 26, who moved to Winnipeg from Zambia three years ago. "The people are so friendly and wonderful in Canada. I am proud to be here."
The new Canadians were among thousands of people who gathered downtown to participate in Canada Day celebrations.
In the morning Mayor Glen Murray, Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Lt.-Gov. Peter Liba spoke at Old Market Square and awarded the Canada Day Youth Awards and the People Who Make A Difference Awards.
Among the recipients was John Rokosh -- a Special Olympian who stopped during a snowshoe race to assist another participant who had fallen.
TYPICAL
"I just did it," said Rokosh, 20. "You gotta help people. I stopped and helped to pick him up."
Rokosh was commended by the dignitaries who said his actions were typical of Canadians.
As he chatted with people at Osborne Village's 19th annual Canada Day Street Festival, Axworthy said he couldn't help but compare Canada to Peru, which he visited last week.
"What a contrast. Just a couple days ago I was surrounded by 4,000 armed troops and driving around in an armoured car," he said. "Here, as a federal minister, I can stand in the street and talk with people with no problems. That's one of the great things about Canada."
While thousands gathered at Osborne Village, St. Boniface residents celebrated on a more intimate scale.
Hundreds, many of them children, toasted Canada's 133rd birthday at the Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre.
TRADITIONAL POWWOW
"I already know tons of stuff about Canada Day," boasted four-year-old Aiden Morrison as he painted pictures on an easel. "It's Canada's birthday and you get to do stuff like colour and paint. I even got to ride behind a horse."
A traditional powwow attracted a crowd of people to Thunderbird House. And music-lovers flocked to The Forks to enjoy a free evening concert performed by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Fireworks -- set to music -- lit up the sky at The Forks to wrap up celebrations.
