ST. JOHN’S, NL: A national flag is never just a piece of cloth.
It carries the memories of childhood, the voices of parents, the sacrifices of freedom fighters, the beauty of home, and the dreams of millions. It represents identity, history, culture, and the unbreakable bond between people and the country they love.
For immigrants and newcomers, that emotional connection never fades.
Thousands of kilometres away from their birthplace, many still stop with pride when they see the flag of their homeland. It reminds them of the streets where they grew up, the festivals they celebrated, the language they speak, and the people they left behind in search of a better future.
That powerful emotion will come alive on Thursday, July 23, when people from around the world gather at the St. John’s Farmers’ Market for the NL Multiculturalism Celebration Flag Parade, organized by Tombolo Multicultural Festival NL.
The parade is not about politics or borders. It is about love.
It is about the love every person carries for the country that shaped them, while proudly embracing the country that has given them a new beginning.
“You can leave your country, but your country never leaves your heart. Your flag is your identity, your memories, and your pride,” said a Tombolo organizer.
As participants proudly carry the flags of Bangladesh, India, Ukraine, Nigeria, the Philippines, Brazil, China, Pakistan, Syria, and many other nations, each flag will tell a unique story. Some represent joyful memories. Others represent journeys marked by sacrifice, courage, and hope.
Many newcomers describe seeing their national flag in Canada as an emotional moment. It reminds them that although they now call Newfoundland and Labrador home, they will never forget where their journey began.
The event also sends an important message to the next generation.
Children born or raised in Canada will walk beside their parents carrying the flag of their family’s homeland, learning that embracing Canadian values does not require forgetting their cultural roots. They can proudly love both the country of their heritage and the country they now call home.
That is the true spirit of multiculturalism.
Canada’s strength has always come from people who brought their languages, traditions, cultures, and dreams from every corner of the world. Every flag in the parade adds another colour to Canada’s multicultural identity.
For Tombolo Multicultural Festival NL, the Flag Parade is more than an event. It is a celebration of respect, belonging, and shared humanity. It reminds everyone that loving your homeland and contributing to Canada are not competing values. They go hand in hand.
On the evening of July 23, dozens of flags will rise together beneath the Newfoundland sky. Each one will represent a nation’s history. Together, they will represent one united community.
Because a flag is more than fabric. It is the heartbeat of a nation, the memory of a people, and the pride we carry wherever life takes us.