Local residents hosting ‘Elbows Up’ event to celebrate community

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on April 25, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

May 3 hopes to be a celebration of Canada as a nation to bring the people of Medicine Hat and area together in the face of growing uncertainty.

While the term “Elbows Up” has taken on a more partisan meaning, this movement is strongly non-partisan, seeking to bring Canadians together to affirm “Canada’s strength, unity and resilience,” as well as sovereignty, according to their website.

The event within Medicine Hat, as being organized by Bob Wanner, Betty Aiken and Stan and Susan Sakamoto, resonates with this message, and they aim to provide a family-friendly opportunity to come together as a community and reconnect as Canadians.

“I saw it originally on social media,” said Aiken. “I was super excited, because I love a good celebration. I saw it as a very positive, upbeat, celebratory event around Canada and about Canada’s sovereignty, especially after the Trump tariffs were announced.”

Planning for the event has been a source of great enthusiasm, said Stan Sakamoto, finding a variety of speakers and live music to keep those who attend entertained and looking toward the future in a positive manner.

They have had help from the individual who organized the original events in the Toronto area, Peter Wall, and they feel that they have created a pleasant afternoon in Riverside Veteran’s Memorial Park.

“Our intention is to be positive and to bring people together and to have people starting to speak in a friendlier way to each other,” said Susan Sakamoto. “We have more in common than not.”

Starting at 1 p.m, Elbows Up will feature performances from Trevor Moore, Mayor Linnsie Clarke, Jim Langstrom, Elder Charlie Fox, Malcolm Sissons and Yusuf Mohammed, among others. Live music will be performed between speakers by the Hip Katz, Derek Hintz Trio, Ron Mason, Muriel Erick and Aleen Zeleny.

It is the hope of the organizing team that people will bring picnic blankets, positive signs and enjoy an afternoon getting reacquainted with their neighbours while celebrating the nation they call home.

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