Let’s rename Canada Day
As we are celebrating Canada’s 146th birthday, replete with a veritable love-in of flag-waving self-congratulatory fervour, one cannot escape the uncomfortable notion that it is a slippery slope from patriotism to jingoism. Canada’s official policy of legislated multiculturalism has, in reality, become a sad manifestation of the intense insecurity that has developed with regard to our historical national identity. Thus, many things have been named and renamed “Canada,” be it Canada day or Canada Place, lest we might forget who we are or where we are.
Other countries do not have “America day” or “France day” or “Germany day” — they are secure about who and what they are. National days celebrate historical achievement. The French people gave birth to their nation on July 14, 1789, and celebrate it as Bastille day. Americans gave birth to their nation on July 4, 1776, and celebrate it as Independence day.
Canada began its devolutionary journey to self-gov- ernment on July 1, 1867, as the federal dominion of Canada with the confederation of the three colonies of British North America into the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia — so let’s mark Canada’s birthday as Confederation day.
146 years later, Confederation — the “coming together” of all of Canada — continues to be a challenge requiring renewed effort and commitment from all of us.
E.W. Bopp, Tsawwassen, B.C. Re: Grocer Feeds Off PQ’s Example, Graeme Hamilton, June 28. This story quotes diane de Courcy, chairman of Quebec’s largest school board, as saying, “remember, we speak French. It’s good for you.”
We also talk english. Joyeuse Fête du Canada! Happy Canada day!
Chris Eustace, Montreal.