City council will decide next week whether to support local organizers who are planning to hold an ‘Elbows Up’ rally in Sault Ste. Marie later this month.
A report headed to the April 7 council meeting says the local event is based on similar movements in Toronto and Ottawa.
“Working collaboratively with the ‘Elbows Up’ National group, it is the aim of our local committee to host a similar kind of event here in Sault Ste. Marie,” said a staff report on the event.
“The goal of these events is to bring Canadians of all stripes together to stand united, strong, and resilient in these difficult times.”
Trade war, annexation threats
The ‘Elbows Up’ slogan is a response to the trade war initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has also threatened to make Canada the 51st state.
“This family-friendly, nonpartisan, and peaceful event is planned to be held in the Roberta Bondar Pavilion or the Downtown Plaza venue,” the staff report said.
“The preference would be to host the event at the Plaza. The date lands on a SOO MRKT day, which has local businesses providing their goods and services and aligns well with the theme of the event.”
The rally would be about 90 minutes long and include a massive sing-a-long of ‘O Canada.’
It would also feature “a welcome by local First Nations drummers and dancers, who will also proclaim the land acknowledgment, speeches from local dignitaries, some musical interludes,” the report said.
“The second part of the event, after the official rally, will have performances by local musicians, food trucks present, local artisans, and beverages from the Can-tina.”
The report recommends providing in-kind services and staff time worth the equivalent of $1,300, which would be absorbed through the Plaza operating budget.
