Brampton hopes St. Paddy’s day marks the start of more post-pandemic celebrations

Mar 17, 2022 | News

For the first time ever, Brampton City Hall raised the Irish flag to help celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, marking the first of many post-pandemic festivities.

“This has never happened before,” said Hugo Straney, the longtime host of Toronto’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. “It’s quite humbling to be here.”

Straney was joined by Brampton’s mayor and other dignitaries for the raising of the flag, followed by the singing of both the Irish and Canadian national anthems.

The event also featured performances from the Wilson Bryson Dennis School of Irish Dance, and a good ol’ Irish breakfast.

Angela Johnson and Hugo Straney took a moment after festivities to speak with Humber News.

Angela Johnson and Hugo Straney took a moment after festivities to speak with Humber News. Photo credit: Kyshia Osei

The COVID pandemic forced Brampton’s Irish community to host an online event last year.

“Because of COVID and all the restrictions we didn’t even know it was going to be lifted in time for us to do this today, but we’re glad it happened,” said Angela Johnson, president of Brampton’s multicultural festival, Carabram.

It is returning for its 40th anniversary in July after a two-year absence due to the pandemic.

Johnson hopes interest in this year’s Irish Pavilion will bring some much-needed attention.

Paschal Brogan, charmingly dubbed The Leprechaun, at Brampton’s City Hall with members of the community.

Paschal Brogan, charmingly dubbed The Leprechaun, at Brampton’s City Hall with members of the community. Photo credit: Kyshia Osei

Also new for St. Patrick’s day this year, the Government of Canada recognized March as the first official Irish Heritage Month.

“To be acknowledged by a branch of government, I think that’s pretty good. I think that’s you know – you can put a notch in your belt or a feather in your cap, that’s a good thing,” Straney said.

See also: St. Patrick’s Day parade marks hopeful sign of spring, normalcy

Organizers expected about 60 people to attend Thursday morning’s event, but say more than 200 showed up.

Straney says they still had enough to feed everyone, which he says is a big part of Irish culture: hospitality.