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Calgary Herald

How are some Canadians in Edmonton feeling about July 1 Canada Day?

Postmedia in Alberta's capital of Edmonton spoke with a cross-section of the community about how they are feeling as Canada Day dawns Tuesday; the range of answers is almost as diverse as Canada itself. Here are a few of those we spoke to prior to Canada's 158th year. Article content Article content Article content Kae Neufeld was getting ready for Canada Day with a group taking part in an incremental walking challenge 'across Canada.' She's trod the Camino in Spain and Portugal, so the walk is right up her alley. Article content Article content 'This morning, I did about 11 kilometers. In May, I did 400 kilometres, and in June, I'll be over 400 again,' she said recently, adding her walking group reached their goal of a compiled 7,000 kilometers in three months, so they were enjoying additional mileage to be done by Canada Day. Article content Article content All her kilometres are accounted for in the Rutherford neighbourhod, where she traces a network of walking trails, taking in neighborhood ponds, duck families and birdsong, armed with walking poles. Article content 'I'm a great lover of nature. To me, Canada is this wonderful land which has these open skies on the prairies … Other countries, of course, have things that are beautiful for them. But to me, Canada is a beautiful, beautiful country.' Article content Neufeld's president of the resident advisory council at Harmony, an Edmonton independent living community, where she lives with husband Don. Article content Article content 'I think if you're truly Canadian and have the Canadian spirit, of sharing, of caring for one another, without getting caught up in a lot of politics and so on, I just can't see us separating or being part of the 51st state,' said Neufeld. Article content Article content Proud but reflective Article content At West Edmonton Mall in time for the Brick Invitational hockey tourney and a Pokemon event, Postmedia encountered Ray Lenes, who is bound for the University of Alberta to study art and design this fall. Article content For Lenes, Canada Day is a time for both cheers and reflection. Article content 'I think it's important to celebrate your country's independence while also recognizing all the mistakes and the things that have been done in the past, like, a lot of the crimes against Indigenous people and minority groups,' Lenes said.