Patriotic display shines bright at Winnipeg home

A Winnipegger used his lighting skills to make a giant Canadian flag to show his love for the country

A Winnipeg man is standing up for his country with a patriotic light display outside of his home.

Steve Hudson, who moved to Canada 18 years ago, put up a giant Canadian flag made of lights outside of his home.

The creation of the display, which took hours to build, involved zip-tying lights into the shape of the flag, as well as the use of rope light to make the maple leaf.

Hudson and his co-workers then mounted the flag on his house, located at McGillivray Boulevard and Pembina Highway.

He said the area around his home gets a lot of traffic, which is why it’s the perfect place for a light display.

“I just knew that if I was going to do this, I had the perfect platform to get out the message of that Canadian flag,” he said.

Hudson said the flag is in response to comments and actions taken against Canada by U.S. president Donald Trump.

He said it’s a way to show Trump that we’re the “true north strong and free” and we won’t back down.

“I just wanted to give Winnipeg some inspiration right now in these troubled times to not be afraid to fly a flag, to show your pride and appreciation in Canada and your country,” he said.

Hudson said he plans to keep the flag lit up until Trump stops talking poorly about Canada.

“We’re never going to back. We will not be the 51st state,” he said.

“I’ve been here for 18 years as an immigrant of Canada. I love Canada. I will stand up for Canada as long as I live.”

• With files from CTV’s Gary Robson.