It’s not the same.

Of course I say that about Canada 150, as a Boomer who remembers the Centennial celebrations in 1967.

My generation is constantly complaining that things are just not as good as they used to be – today’s Leafs can’t match those from the 60’s; there’s no band around like The Beatles; there’s no celebrations today like Woodstock and the Summer of Love and today’s Trudeau is no match for his Dad, the real Trudeau, as in Pierre Elliott.

But I’m not making one of these boring, tiresome comparisons that each older generation burdens the younger ones with through the ages.

I say it because it’s true. This national celebration is not like the one in 1967.

The Canadian Centennial in 1967 was about celebrating our country together, as one.

Look at how we did it

– the Centennial flame on Parliament Hill, which was televised nationally,

– the Centennial Train that crossed the country, Bobby Gimbey and his Canada song –  that those of us who were there can still hum and sing –

– the memorable Centennial logo that was used everywhere,

– Lightfoot’s Canadian Railroad Trilogy, that honoured the rail-workers who built the tracks across Canada,

– innumerable sporting, musical and artistic events that were open to everyone

– and the biggest event of all – EXPO ’67 in Montreal, celebrating ” Man and His World ” , which 50 million people attended, when the population of the country was 20 million

Compare these events with the activities organized this year for Canada 150 – one event for Millennials, one for Indigenous people, another  for the multicultural community, others for film lovers, the culinary community, film fans, wildlife supporters, environmentalists and innumerable , exclusive events for youth.

Exclusivity  – that ‘s the difference.

True, we’re all invited to these Canada 150 events, but they are obviously prepared by and for a particular community. Just go to one of the multicultural events if you’re not a member of the participating communities or to one of the youth events if you’re my age. They’re not meant for you and you’ll not really be welcome.

The Canada we celebrated in 1967 was far from perfect, but our intentions were perfect.

We wanted to celebrate and honour Canada together, as one,  and to start building a more just society. We elected Pierre Trudeau as Prime Minister the year after when he called for this ” just society ”  and we supported him and the Mulroney governments when they opened Canadian immigration rules to all peoples and started building the diverse, multicultural Canada that exists today.

My hope is that the Canada of the future will discard the exclusivity that is the main feature of Canada 150 and remember and renew the high ideals towards unity that governed the Centennial celebrations.