Commonwealth Day holds new meaning on P.E.I. amid U.S. annexation threat

Unity was a common theme among those who attended a Commonwealth Day event on P.E.I. earlier this week as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose devastating tariffs on Canada and annex the country as a 51st state.

Commonwealth Day is marked by countries across the globe. Outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described it as a time to celebrate the Commonwealth's "commitment to democracy, peace, and prosperity around the world." This year's Commonwealth Day theme was Together We Thrive.

"In this world of animosity and whatnot, it's nice to show kindness and love between nations," said Owen Parkhouse, the vice-president of the Royal Commonwealth Society of P.E.I.

Commonwealth Day has been celebrated every second Monday of March since the 1970s. There are currently 2.7 billion people around the world living in countries who are part of the modern Commonwealth.

"It's a symbol of unity, the Commonwealth celebration," said Sanjeewa Rajapaksha, who was at the event at St. James Presbyterian Church in Charlottetown with his family to represent Sri Lanka, one of the 56 countries who are part of the modem Commonwealth.

"Canada and the United States had a good collaboration and were very friendly countries ... That has to stay as it is."

Flags from the different Commonwealth countries were present at the event. Islanders were encouraged to stand up when they passed.

"Canada has always been a major part of the Commonwealth. I think a lot of Canadians really don't know that because we have been so drawn in by our geography to other countries in North America," Parkhouse said.

"It's important to know where you came from as well ... It's lovely to have all these new Canadians here, but we all are immigrants at one time or another. "

Canada was first introduced to the British Commonwealth as an independent state in 1931, but was also part of the modern Commonwealth, which came into existence in 1949.