Commentary and opinion on national and regional politics by Seema Malhotra

Wednesday 2 July 2008

Last night walking through central London after work I was attracted by music coming from Trafalgar Square. It was the Canada Day celebrations - and as I went to Canada last year I considered it quite legitimate to go along! I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the event - not least because it felt like a bit of a bonding with this Commonwealth sibling but because it was carefree, relaxed, inspiring and fun. I was surrounded by people of all backgrounds and ages, tourists and Londoners, spending a hot summer evening listening to musicians and celebrities from Canada talk about what they love about "back home" and sharing their spirits with a global collection of citizens in the heart of London. This really is what London does best - when it can find ways to do it. Open, inclusive, fun, talented, global and spirited. So much so I spent much of the evening texting friends across the world to tell them what they were missing.