As tarot card reader Natascha Leimbigler surveyed the sea of red and white from her chair in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, she read a card for Canada Day.
It was the magician, a proud-looking figure dressed in red and white with an infinity symbol above his head.
“You’ve pulled the most powerful card in the whole deck of tarot … and look, it’s red and white, so it represents the ability to create whatever you want from nothing,” Leimbigler said.
“Canada is a country where anyone can come and be who they want to be. This is a very beautiful card for Canada.”
That freedom of expression and unabashed Canadian pride was on full display as the capital region celebrated the country’s 147th birthday on Tuesday — from the flag tattoos on the cheeks of children to the Living Flag on the lawn of the legislature.
Ken Kelly, general manager of the Downtown Victoria Business Association, estimated there were 2,500 to 3,000 people who huddled together to create Victoria’s Living Flag. “It will require a nose count,” he said.
Victoria started the Living Flag in 2006, and has attracted competition since with cities such as Winnipeg, Brandon, Calgary and Ottawa vying for bragging rights about the largest flag this year.
“It’s totally a fun-filled competition,” he said. “Nothing but spirit, nothing but the best of will.”
Kelly commended residents of Brandon, Man., for going ahead with their Living Flag despite a state of emergency that was declared on Sunday due to flooding.
Victoria was lucky to get sunshine and heat, which is what drew tens of thousands of people to the Inner Harbour for music, food and entertainment.
Janine Albia, 40, sat in the shade of the sequoia tree in front of the legislature with her two daughters, 23-year-old Francine and three-year-old Jayden.
It was the first Canada Day in years that Albia has had off work from her job as a care aid in a seniors home. And with good reason: Albia became a Canadian citizen Tuesday morning, seven years after moving here from the Philippines.
“It’s amazing. I’ve been waiting for this for so long,” she said.
When asked, “What’s the most Canadian thing about you?” Albia responded: “Being a giver.”
Security was heightened this year as a result of last year’s bomb scare. RCMP arrested a man and a woman in Abbotsford after three pressure-cooker bombs packed with rusty nails — which had been rendered inert — were placed in bushes outside the legislature. Police charged John Nuttall, 38, and his girlfriend Amanda Korody, 30, with facilitating a terrorist activity and making or possessing an explosive substance.
Both are facing trial in the Lower Mainland in January.
This year, shrubs and low-hanging tree branches were cut back to clear sight lines for enhanced video surveillance; explosives technicians from Victoria and Saanich police were on duty.
Explosives technicians had to be called out to the intersection of Government and Fisgard streets about noon after a black duffle bag was left on the sidewalk outside a restaurant. The intersection was blocked off for about two hours. Police determined the bag was not a threat — it contained clothes and personal items.
Victoria police said it’s a reminder not to leave bags unattended.
Police across the region ran road and alcohol checks as tens of thousands of people headed for the Inner Harbour to watch musicians Jon and Roy perform on the stage in front of the legislature. The evening culminated with a fireworks show in the Inner Harbour at 10:20 p.m.
Victoria Police Chief Frank Elsner said more than 200 officers and reserve constables from his department and across the region were downtown, pouring out open liquor and controlling disorderly conduct. “We’ve been busy,” Elsner said shortly after 9 p.m. “A couple [of] scraps and that sort of thing, but by and large a good family atmosphere.”
Elsner said the biggest concern was underage drinking. He said any highly intoxicated youth would be treated medically and taken home to their parents, not to police cells. Officers had several roadblocks around the core looking for drunk drivers.
The department was encouraging people to use the #VicPDHelps hashtag on Twitter to report non-emergency incidents.
At least one aggressive, drunk man was arrested after police were alerted through the hashtag.
