Prince Charles Hails Canada As It Celebrates 150th Birthday

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of
Cornwall have joined Canada's Prime
Minister and hundreds of thousands of
people at a star-studded event to mark
the nation's 150th birthday.



Prime Minister Justin Trudeau kicked off
the celebrations at the open-air event in
the capital Ottawa by saying:

"Canada is a
country made strong not in spite of our
differences but because of them.


"We don't aspire to be a melting pot.
Indeed, we know true strength and
resilience flows through Canadian
diversity.



"Ours is a land of original peoples and of
newcomers. And our greatest pride is that
you can come here from anywhere in the
world, build a good life, and be part of our
community."



Prince Charles, who shared the stage with
Mr Trudeau, praised the Commonwealth
nation for their positive attributes, from
championing human rights to being
responsible stewards of the environment.



The Prince told the thousands gathered on
Parliament Hill:


"We should be clear and
proud that we are celebrating a country
that others look to for example.


"An example of fairness and inclusion; of
always striving to be better.



"Around the world Canada is recognised
as a champion of human rights, as a
peace-keeper, a responsible steward of
the environment and natural resources,and as a powerful and consistent example
of diversity and the power of inclusion."



The heir to the throne ended by telling the
crowds: "Happy birthday, Canada."
Bono and The Edge, from the band U2,
headlined the event, playing their song
One Love and the Lennon and McCartney
track Rain, which fitted the mood of the
day with the city drenched by downpours.



The singer joked with Charles and Camilla,
whose three-day tour of Canada is coming
to an end, saying:


"Your Highnesses, your
Canadianesses, thank-you for having us."



He added:

"The Irish have been welcomed
here for hundreds of years and still now,
from the famine, where we were in many
respects refugees, to now, we arrive by
choice bringing ingenious little starts ups
and approximately 17,165 Irish pubs."