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Canadian flag at truck protests: a collective symbol with individual meaning | Globalnews.ca – Global News

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The symbolism attached to national flags often revolves around patriotism, but experts say the Maple Leaf’s prominent appearance at COVID-19 mandate protests comes at a moment of reflection for Canada.

Canadians might not be known as fervent flag wavers like their U.S. neighbours, but the Maple Leaf’s display at protests on Parliament Hill and at border crossings has given some people pause, said Carmen Celestini, a post-doctoral fellow with the Disinformation Project at Simon Fraser University’s school of communication in Burnaby, B.C.

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“It’s definitely jarring for everybody and making people really think about who we are as a nation on so many different levels,” she said in an interview.

Images of the flag fluttering from trucks, flying upside down or worn as a cape have captured attention since the blockade began in Ottawa on Jan. 28.


Click to play video: 'The politics of the truckers’ ‘freedom convoy’'



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The politics of the truckers’ ‘freedom convoy’


The politics of the truckers’ ‘freedom convoy’ – Jan 28, 2022

Celestini said most Canadians are having a moment of reflection when it comes to the flag, which began with the discovery of what are believed to be 215 unmarked graves at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. The announcement led some cities to cancel Canada Day events in a national reckoning of the country’s colonial past.

Read more:

‘No pride’: Growing calls to cancel Canada Day amid residential schools discovery

The flag symbolizes freedom for the truckers, she noted.

“The word freedom can mean so many different things to so many different people,” she said. “That is a really good word for social mobilization.”


Click to play video: 'Orange Shirt Society condemns ‘Freedom Convoy’ support'



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Orange Shirt Society condemns ‘Freedom Convoy’ support


Orange Shirt Society condemns ‘Freedom Convoy’ support

In the 57 years since it was first raised, the Maple Leaf has been hoisted by Olympic athletes in victory, wrapped around coffins of soldiers coming home from Afghanistan in an image of mourning, lit on fire at protests, and worn on hats and sewn on backpacks of travellers.

In Ottawa, it has been fastened to the front of vehicles, sometimes with slogans scrawled across it, becoming an emblem of political affiliation for some.

Phil Triadafilopoulos, an associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto, said most of the flags being flown at the protests in Ottawa are the Maple Leaf although there are a few others.

“So, you know, what does that say about this sort of political orientation of the people assembled there?” he asked.

“I guess the vast majority of them think of themselves as Canadian patriots of some kind.”

It’s safe to say, he said, that those on the left of the political spectrum don’t typically make the same outward expressions of national identification as those on the right.

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Anti-hate experts concerned about possible neo-fascist involvement at Alberta trucker convoy

John Vile, a professor of political science and a dean at Middle Tennessee State University, said the flag is not “quite an empty vessel” as a symbol in the United States and other nations.

“Many people pour their ideas of what they consider to be the most basic and noble aspirations into the symbol, including liberty,” he said.

While a flag is meant as a symbol of national unity, Vile said it appears to be used more by the right than the left at this time in U.S. history. This may partly be a result of athletes and others who have “taken a knee” during playing of the U.S. national anthem as they question whether the flag has lived up to American ideals of freedom and equality for all, especially people of colour, he said.

But U.S. politicians of all stripes have long sought to wrap themselves and their policies in the American flag, he added.

“I think it would be tragic if it came to be viewed as a purely partisan symbol,” he said.


Click to play video: 'Condemnation of Nazi symbols at the Ottawa vaccine mandate protest'



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Condemnation of Nazi symbols at the Ottawa vaccine mandate protest


Condemnation of Nazi symbols at the Ottawa vaccine mandate protest – Feb 1, 2022

Celestini said some of that symbolism has seeped into Canada from the United States.

It’s reflected in the language and slogans used in Ottawa including “Make Canada Great Again” and calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to be tried for treason.

“It’s very much the language that was articulated in the south during the last couple of elections,” she said.

Read more:

U.S. conservative media cheers on trucker convoy protests in Canada: ‘don’t give up’

Vile said the flags of all countries are inextricably bound to the idea of nationalism, and love of country isn’t confined to one party.

“I don’t think liberals love the country any less than conservatives do,” he said.

Celestini agreed, adding that the flag cannot be taken over by any one group.

“It is a nation’s flag. The flag is definitely individual and definitely national.”


Click to play video: 'Trucker convoy: Protesters clean-up Terry Fox statue in Ottawa following outcry'



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Trucker convoy: Protesters clean-up Terry Fox statue in Ottawa following outcry


Trucker convoy: Protesters clean-up Terry Fox statue in Ottawa following outcry – Jan 31, 2022

Triadafilopoulos said Canada is not as intense as the United States when it comes to flag-waving but there is a sense of pride in its display.

He said he finds it disrespectful when the flag is flown upside down and worries that a shared symbol is being appropriated by some to advance a narrow agenda.

“But I also know that the Canadian flag is important for many Canadians and will likely continue to serve as a common symbol that unites more than it divides,” Triadafilopoulos said.

“It’s one of those few things that Canadians of all stripes feel quite comfortable with and close to.”


Click to play video: 'Trucker protests: Crowd gathers in Parliament Hill for second weekend of protests'



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Trucker protests: Crowd gathers in Parliament Hill for second weekend of protests


Trucker protests: Crowd gathers in Parliament Hill for second weekend of protests – Feb 5, 2022

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Florida State asks judge to rule on parts of suit against ACC, hoping for resolution without trial

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State has asked a judge to decide key parts of its lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference without a trial, hoping for a quicker resolution and path to a possible exit from the league.

Florida State requested a partial summary judgment from Circuit Judge John Cooper in a 574-page document filed earlier this week in Leon County, the Tallahassee-based school’s home court.

Florida State sued the ACC in December, challenging the validity of a contract that binds member schools to the conference and each other through media rights and claiming the league’s exit fees and penalties for withdrawal are exorbitant and unfair.

In its original compliant, Florida State said it would cost the school more than half a billion dollars to break the grant of rights and leave the ACC.

“The recently-produced 2016 ESPN agreements expose that the ACC has no rights to FSU home games played after it leaves the conference,” Florida State said in the filing.

Florida State is asking a judge to rule on the exit fees and for a summary judgment on its breach of contract claim, which says the conference broke its bylaws when it sued the school without first getting a majority vote from the entire league membership.

The case is one of four active right now involving the ACC and one of its members.

The ACC has sued Florida State in North Carolina, claiming the school is breaching a contract that it has signed twice in the last decade simply by challenging it.

The judge in Florida has already denied the ACC’s motion to dismiss or pause that case because the conference filed first in North Carolina. The conference appealed the Florida decision in a hearing earlier this week.

Clemson is also suing the ACC in South Carolina, trying to find an affordable potential exit, and the conference has countersued that school in North Carolina, too.

Florida State and the ACC completed court-mandated mediation last month without resolution.

The dispute is tied to the ACC’s long-term deal with ESPN, which runs through 2036, and leaves those schools lagging well behind competitors in the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten when it comes to conference-payout revenue.

Florida State has said the athletic department is in danger of falling behind by as much as $40 million annually by being in the ACC.

“Postponing the resolution of this question only compounds the expense and travesty,” the school said in the latest filing.

The ACC has implemented a bonus system called a success initiative that will reward schools for accomplishments on the field and court, but Florida State and Clemson are looking for more as two of the conference’s highest-profile brands and most successful football programs.

The ACC evenly distributes revenue from its broadcast deal, though new members California, Stanford and SMU receive a reduced and no distribution. That money is used to fund the pool for the success initiative.

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Australia’s Michael Matthews earns third win at Quebec cycling GP

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QUEBEC – Australian road cyclist Michael Matthews raced to victory at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec on Friday.

Matthews earned a record third career victory in Quebec City. He was previously tied with Slovakia’s Peter Sagan with two wins.

The Jayco-AlUla rider won the fastest edition of the Quebec race on the UCI World Tour calendar.

Matthews, who claimed titles in 2018 and 2019, edged out Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay and France’s Rudy Molard in a thrilling sprint.

Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar, the heavy favourite, was unable to follow through with his attack launched just over two kilometres from the finish line. He finished in seventh place.

Pogacar will look to redeem himself at the Montreal cycling Grand Prix on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

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Whitecaps loan Herdman to CPL’s Cavalry, sign two reserve players to first-team deals

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VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps have loaned midfielder Jay Herdman to Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League and rewarded two Whitecaps FC 2 players with MLS contracts.

Midfielder Jeevan Badwal signed as a homegrown player through 2027, with options for 2028 and 2029, while forward Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau signed an MLS contract through 2025, with club options for 2026 and 2027.

Both have been playing for the Whitecaps’ MLS Next Pro team along with the 20-year-old Herdman, the son of Toronto FC coach John Herdman.

The moves were made before Friday’s MLS and CPL roster freeze.

Born in New Zealand while his father was working for the New Zealand Football Federation, Jay Herdman was also part of the New Zealand soccer team at the Paris Olympics with three appearances including two starts. Herdman’s loan deal runs through the end of the CPL season.

“Jay is an important signing for us, who will provide another attacking option for the run-in,” Cavalry coach and GM Tommy Wheeldon Jr. said in a statement. “He’s a player that we’ve been tracking since we played against Whitecaps in pre-season and he has very good quality, with terrific energy and the ability to contribute to goals.

“With the recent injury to Mael Henry, Jay’s positional profile and age helps us with on-field options and minutes that count towards the league’s required 2,000 U-21 domestic minutes during the regular season.”

Badwal, an 18-year-old from suburban Surrey, is the 26th academy player to sign an MLS contract with the Whitecaps.

“Having joined our academy in 2019, Jeevan continues to progress through our club and takes every challenge in stride,” Whitecaps FC sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement. “He is comfortable on the ball, positionally sound, and does the simple things very well. We are excited for Jeevan to make the next step in his young career.”

Badwal has made 19 appearances with Whitecaps 2 this season, scoring two goals and adding three assists. A Canadian youth international, he started all three matches for Canada at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup

Badwal made his first-team debut off the bench in the first leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal against Pacific FC.

Chateau was originally selected 74th overall by the Whitecaps in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft after spending two years at St. John’s University.

The 22-year-old from Ottawa signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Whitecaps FC 2 in March. He leads Whitecaps FC 2 in goal-scoring this season with eight goals across 21 appearances (including eight starts).

“Nicolas leads MLS NEXT Pro in shots on target, has a very strong work rate and willpower. We are looking forward to seeing his growth as he builds on his young professional career,” said Schuster.

Chateau made his first-team debut as a second-half substitute at CF Montreal on July 6.

Herdman, who joined the Whitecaps academy as a 13-year-old, has made 19 appearances for Whitecaps FC 2 in 2024, scoring six goals and adding three assists. He made his MLS debut in April as a second-half substitute in a 2-0 victory at the Seattle Sounders.

Internationally, Herdman has represented New Zealand 29 times across the U-19, U-20, and U-23 sides. He was part of New Zealand’s squad at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, starting three matches at the tournament and scoring against Uzbekistan.

The Whitecaps host San Jose on Saturday while Cavalry entertains Atletico Ottawa on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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