After more than two decades of planting miniature Canadian flags at the end of driveways in and around Huntsville, Coldwell Banker Thompson Real Estate is pausing the tradition for 2021.
The local real estate brokerage shared the news on its social media channels today.
“For the past 25 years, the team at Coldwell Banker Thompson Real Estate and their family and friends have joined together in the early hours of Canada Day to plant Canada flags around Huntsville, Almaguin Highlands, and our surrounding communities,” they wrote. “It is a tradition that we have loved sharing with our communities as a celebration of our great country.
“We are saddened and heartbroken at the discovery of the many children that have been discovered, and no doubt will continue to be discovered, at the residential schools across this country. The abuse of the Indigenous people in this country has been and continues to be something we need to address as a society. We need to use our voices for those that cannot.
“With that in mind, we have decided to pause our tradition of planting the flags for this year. We love our country. It is a place that has welcomed many from around the world with open arms. We honour all those who have sacrificed for us to have our freedoms. But we are not without our faults. We need to do better. And we can do better. It’s time to listen.”
The Residential School Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419) is available to provide support to anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of a residential school experience.
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Sandy McLennan says
I believe this is fair thinking. Take a pause. Whatever we think (or repeat), let’s just take a moment and ponder. Bravo to the folks at Coldwell Banker Thompson, then and now. Thinking is good for the future.
Ross Pease says
I disagree with this thinking. We can still honour our indigenous people as well as our great country at the same time. One does not superceded the other. By planting flags we are respecting our country and ALL it’s people regardless of race ,creed,colour or faith. As far as I am concerned we are all equal.
bob johnson says
Perhaps Caldwell Banker should donate the money they saved by not planting these flags to the Residential School Crisis Line or some other worthy cause.
Also I am not in support of this flag planting practice on the principle that is wasteful and serves only to scatter more garbage along our streets. Perhaps Caldwell Banker should have being going around removing the flags and cleaning up in the weeks after distributing them. I still see half rotten flags from last year littering the streets.
Their intentions may have been good but maybe it is time to find a new way to show their pride in Canada.
Craig Nakamoto says
I agree with Ross and Bob. I think we should still celebrate Canada Day but I strongly dislike the practice of putting little disposable flags all over the place. I am sure that Coldwell Banker’s heart is in the right place, but seeing those flags in the ditches afterwards is not nice and yes, I also think they should be collecting them. Maybe they should purchase a smaller number of nice, high quality flags which can be put up and taken down and reused each year.
Jim Boyes says
Thank you Coldwell-Banker for your public spirited work over the years with the flags. We have allways been pleased to see these cheery little flags of celebration in front of each home. A very nice comunity gesture by your organization.
If it makes those who claim to be worried about this being polution feel better perhaps do as we do. The next day we collect a few from around the neighbourhood and the following Canada Day put them around our own property in planters and gardens to show a festive spirit.
We are disappointed that CB have decided to step back this year. We respect this decision altho certainly do not agree wih it. Canada is worth celebrating. Doing so does not indicate disrespect or lack of empathy for anyone currently grieving. Celebrate Canada and all who live here.
I have decided to improve my personal knowledge and understanding of the history and experience of Native Peoples and have obtained the book “The Inconvenient Indian” by Thomas Cook which is prooving to be informative and at times provocative. The author is in his own words, an Indian. It is worth reading.
So I will observe Canada Day and improve my understanding of my Native fellow citizens.
Once again, thanks to Coldwell – Banker. Happy Canada Day all!
Gloria Schimmel says
ok so we don’t spend Canada Day celebrating the politics which created this entity: can we just celebrate the land instead?
Allen Markle says
Gloria Schimmel. Thank you. I’m on your team. Can’t imagine wanting to celebrate ‘politicians day’s but this is still my home, rough patches and all.
Steve Ainger says
Thank you to Coldwell Banker and your volunteers for adding to our Canada Day festivities over the years. I hope you will resume planting flags in the future. To those who are bothered by the flags after our special day is over, pick a few up. It’s not that hard compared to the effort that went into putting them out.
Murray Christenson says
Submitting to the cancel culture wishes of a vocal minority is a weak response to dark chapter in our past. Canada is the greatest country in the world, one that is open, fair, diverse and welcoming to persecuted peoples from all over the world. It always deserves to be celebrated.
Coldwell Banker is off my list of companies to do business with. Happy Canada Day!