Freedom, democracy and respect. These are just a few words that come to Lamiaa Hegazy’s mind when she thinks of Canada.
In 2009 Hegazy left Egypt for Canada. Sitting on a cool patch of grass at Riel Park on Sunday, she reflects on the day she received her citizenship.
“I was crying,” she said. “It’s the responsibility of holding another citizenship. I felt like it was something big for me, it was the most incredible thing.”
As citizens, she said it is important to show national pride and celebrate Canada Day.
Both Hegazy and her husband, Mostafa Kamaleldin, have lived in St. Albert since 2015. Kamaleldin currently has a placement at Sturgeon Hospital as a general practitioner.
It was through medicine that the two initially met. Both were undergoing a medical degree in Egypt when they met and later married. As soon as the degree was finished, the two looked for a new place to call home.
Canada was an easy choice for the couple, as Kamaleldin was originally born in Hamilton, Ont. His family moved to Egypt when he was three years old, granting him dual citizenship in both countries.
Almost immediately after moving to Canada he started studies in medicine at the University of Alberta.
Kamaleldin said Canada has given the couple a bright future. He said many Canadians take their freedom for granted, something that they didn’t have in Egypt.
“People don’t realize the freedom they have here,” Kamaleldin said. “It’s better here in Canada. There’s less corruption and it’s a better quality of life altogether.”
One of Hegazy’s favourite parts of Canada Day celebrations at Riel Park was posing with RCMP officers.
“Police there, they treat people in a different way. Here they help you, (in Egypt) they don’t respect you the way they do here.”
For attendee Brad Sayers, his favourite part of the day was spending time with his two grandchildren. As he stood next to a face-painting booth, the two tots ran into the wide field at Riel.
“My grandkids are loving it,” he said. “It’s important to celebrate Canada Day, we’re Canadian.”
Food trucks, games and live music amped up celebrations at Riel Park on Sunday. Families weaved in and out of crowds as they searched for their favourite spot to sit and enjoy the free concert.
Over in Morinville a similar scene was taking place. Music wafted through St. Jean Baptiste Park as children laughed loudly, ice cream painting their cheeks. People sat in chairs, listening intently to the music.
But along a residential street just metres away from the park a much different event was taking place.
Strong man, strong truck
Gripping a thick rope through gloved hands, Scott Wallace stepped steadily forward. The fire truck was no match for the strong man.
A large crowd cheered loudly as Wallace pulled the 30,000-pound fire truck 25 feet down the street in celebration of Canada Day.
Afterwards Wallace said the truck pull was a lot less intimidating than he expected.
“It went better than I expected,” he said. “I thought it was going to be really tough to get it started and get moving, but when I strapped in and grabbed the rope, I could feel right away that it was moving.”
The Morinville resident, who won the 2016 B.C.’s strongest man competition, said the fire truck was the third-heaviest thing he’s ever pulled.
But getting to the finish line is no easy task. Wallace said in order to practice he pulls his pickup truck around the block of his neighbourhood, where neighbours stand along the streets and watch enthusiastically.
After the pull, resident Ronni Hill said it was the “most incredible thing” she’s ever seen.
“He made it look so easy, it was so cool,” she said.
Likewise, her friend Brianna McLaggan said she came out to the Morinville celebrations just to see the strongman pull.
But for Raymond Belanger, as he watched Wallace pull the fire truck down the street, a different thought drifted into his mind.
