Well it is here

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150, 1535, 1867, Canada., Confederation

So the big long weekend is upon us, the 150th Birthday of Canada’s Confederation which gave us our Constitution and our Federal system of governance under the Westminster Parliamentary system. I remember in school the teacher would describe Canada as a Federation, which we are, and also a Constitutional Monarchy, this is why we are the Dominion of Canada. The word dominion was chosen because the Fathers of Confederation did not want to offend the USA with the word Kingdom, in 1867 the USA had just come out of a bloody Civil War, some would argue they are still fighting it today.

A funny country Canada, we are the second largest country in the World in terms of geographical space, Russia being larger. We have borders with the USA, Russia, Denmark and 3 oceans, Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific.  Our population is 37 million people and let’s not forget the 6 time zones.  At the current population growth rate we will reach 40 million people by 2025. Our largest cities are Toronto at 6 million, Montreal at 4.5 million, Vancouver 3 million, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa the National Capital, all at 1 million pop.

The Native population of Canada is about 1 million people, the Métis are 500,000 and the Inuit 65,000. As a group they are a very young population, whereas the non-Native in Canada are an aging population the largest group being over 55 years of age.

In 1867 our population was 3.6 million, mostly French, English, Irish, Scottish. Massive immigration from Europe in the years to follow would change the make-up of the population and then after 1976 Canada would start admitting mostly Asian and Sub-Asian immigrants and we still do. Cities like Vancouver are majority Asian now, Toronto a close second. Montreal has a greater mix of population, African, Arab, Asian and European.

We do have a lot to celebrate on this anniversary, but mostly Peace and Social cohesion in our society is something that I note. Few countries in the World have what we have. Nothing is perfect in this World but we are OK.

As I write this, I note that today 29 June 2017 marks the arrival on PEI in 1534 of French explorer Jacques Cartier who would claim all for the King of France, Francis I.

Coat of Arms of the King of France and Canada 

Coat of Arms of Canada 1867

 

Coat of Arms of Canada, today

 

 

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New Canadian Stamp

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150, Canada., Gay, LGBT, post, Stamp

Canada Post unveiled today a new stamp to show that in Canada we have marriage equality and this is enshrined in our Constitution.

The stamp is in both of Canada’s Official languages, French and English and is shaped like a Maple Leaf with the Rainbow Flag and the Words Canada 150 to mark the Anniversary of Confederation 1867-2017.

Historical black holes

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150, Acadiens, Canada., CBC

For the 150th Anniversary of Canada’s union into a single Nation (1867-2017) the Department of Heritage has sponsored a televised serial presented by the CBC entitled the Story of Us.  It’s been a disaster from the get go, a producer was hired to produce these televised shows on what is suppose to be our National history and many scholars were consulted. The biggest problem of the entire series is the omissions of many very foundational moments in the history of Canada. The producer decided to start the story in 1608 with the founding of the City of Quebec, then it jumps to the Seven Years War and the battle of the Plains of Abraham outside Quebec City in 1759.

Right away the screaming started not only from the public but from Provincial Governments who felt slighted by the omissions. The Story of Canada really starts for the French settlers in 1534 with the arrival of Jacques Cartier in the Gaspé Peninsula. The settlements of Louisbourg and Isle Royale, today’s Cape Breton in Nova Scotia and the Deportation of the Acadiens known as le grand dérangement 1755-1764 are completely missing and not mentioned. Given that these events by modern standard can be seen as British war crimes and crimes against humanity and help explain how the British came to control North America and much of the social tensions which exist to this day in Canada, it is rather strange that the CBC and the Office of the Minister Mélanie Joly gave the go ahead speaks of the lack of historical education of Ms Joly and the usual nonchalance of the CBC in such matters.

The same then happens for the period 1765 to 1864, one hundred years of history which shaped events that led to the Conference of Charlottetown in 1864 is cut out of the narrative. The CBC explained that they had to make choices and preferred to concentrate on what can only be described as Pop History. Given the lack of knowledge of our National History by the majority of Canadians, this if very unfortunate but illustrates a greater problem which is the little value placed on education in general by institutions like the CBC and our Federal Government. A cynic might say that the politicians try to control the official narrative too closely to suit their own purposes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

An important Anniversary

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150, BNA, Canada., Constitution, Victoria

This article was written by Nathan Tidridge for Maclean’s

The Canadian Constitution known by its formal name of British North America Act is 150 years old this week on Wednesday 29 March. Queen Victoria gave Royal Assent to the Act making it Official now known as the Constitution Act 1867.

She wrote in her journal;

“There will be a great deal to do with the Confederation of N. America which is likely now to be accomplished & which will be a great safeguard against America.” – Queen Victoria’s Personal Journal, April 4th, 1866

 

Nearly every community in Canada harbours a “Queen Street” named for this woman. Perhaps in a cheeky nod to their famously passionate marriage, the community of Waterdown, Ontario, has Victoria and Albert streets intersecting. From British Columbia’s “Victoria,” to Saskatchewan’s “Regina,” and Nova Scotia’s “Victoria County,” the old Queen remains a consistent cultural touchstone for the country. Prince Edward Island was named for her father, Alberta for her daughter, and it was she that came up with the idea to add the “British” to Columbia. The Queen’s visage graces treaty medals, and her birthday is commemorated by cottage-bound Canadians every May.
Whether or not it is a popular myth that Ottawa was personally selected by the Queen, the story makes it clear that the monarch’s blessing was necessary for the new capital’s acceptance. Her daughter Princess Louise was chatelaine of Rideau Hall (1878-1883), and her son served as governor general of Canada (Duke of Connaught, 1911-1916).
However, there is much more to Victoria than simply window-dressing—there is depth beneath her stare. During her long reign (only recently surpassed by her great-great-granddaughter Elizabeth II), the Queen was keenly aware of the goings-on in North America. A union of the British North American colonies was mentioned in her personal diary as early as Feb. 12, 1865, where she fretted about the possibility of an American invasion. Advocating for the defence of Canada, Victoria wrote: “…we must struggle for it, and far the best it would be to let it go as an Independent Kingdom, under an English Prince!” The Queen goes on to discuss her husband—the late Prince Albert’s—hopes that their sons would someday reign over the various British colonies, even suggesting Prince Arthur for Canada.
Victoria’s connection with the realm of Canada dates back to her father’s residency in Quebec City and Halifax from 1791-1800 (the Duke of Kent was a noted supporter of British North American unity). And her ascension to the throne in 1837 was a period marked by the Upper and Lower Canadian rebellions (the Queen regularly—sometimes daily—recorded events that evoked the other odious American rebellion that marred the reign of her grandfather, King George III).
The British North America Act (now called the Constitution Act 1867) was submitted to the Queen on Feb. 11, 1867. Two weeks later, Victoria hosted and noted the Canadian delegates “who have come about the great confederation of British North America”—including a newly remarried Sir John A. Macdonald. The country’s future prime minister famously explained that the purpose of Confederation was “to declare in the most solemn and emphatic manner our resolve to be under the Sovereignty of Your Majesty and your family forever.” On March 29, the Queen formally granted Royal Assent to the act, earning the sobriquet “Mother of Confederation.”
Victoria recorded a council she held for the declaration of the “N. American Province, under the name of Canada” on May 22, 1867, announcing the names of Canada’s first 72 senators and proclaiming that the British North America Act would come into effect on July 1, 1867, allowing the Canadian delegation time to travel back home for the celebrations.

 In truth, the Mother of Confederation had a rich and nuanced relationship with Canada that touched on both the trivial (Victoria loved watching her husband Prince Albert play hockey on a pond near their residence at Frogmore) and consequential. Many of her children spent long periods of time in Canada, including Princess Louise and the Duke of Connaught. The Queen fretted over American expansionism, fostered British North American unity.

Flag of Canada 1868-1921

The shining City on the hill

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150, Canada., prosperity, USA

By virtually every measure, Canada has surpassed the United States as the shining city on the hill, where everyone is safe to reach their potential.

It is often noted that in the early 20th century, Canadian prime minister Sir Wilfred Laurier declared, “Canada shall be the star towards which all men who love progress and freedom shall come.”

The American Dream promised equality, a level playing field where everyone could pull themselves up by their bootstraps, but that too is more a Canadian thing. Canada’s “Gini coefficient”, a measurement of economic inequality, is significantly better than America’s and has been for 80 years now. In Canada, you are twice as likely to move from the poorest quintile of the population to the wealthiest.

Compared to Canada, America isn’t even the “land of the free”, anymore. The Cato Institute’s Human Freedom Index considers Canadians to be the sixth freest people in the world, while Americans limp in at 23rd, behind Poland. The conservative Heritage Foundation, based in Washington, ranks Canada 7th and the U.S. 17th  respectively for economic freedom. Free speech? Reporters Without Borders scores Canada 18th for press freedom; in spite of its much vaunted First Amendment, America only manages 41st.

Whether it was due to geography or history or maybe even policy, we have arrived. Everything America once aspired to be, we now are. Not only have we achieved the fabled American Dream, we are arguably among the safest, healthiest, happiest human beings to have ever existed.

 

1867-2017

End of year piece

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150, 1864, 2016, 2017, Canada., Charlottetown, Christmas, Confederation, move, PEI, Province house

Today is the Third Sunday in Advent, 11 December 2016, a beautiful Sunny morning again in Charlottetown on the banks of the Hillsborough river. What I like most about our home is the light coming through our East, South and West windows not to mention the Northern windows (facade) which give the late afternoon glow at Sunset. The view is panoramic which is a bonus for me. The peace and quiet, the friendly people, the lack of stress and the slower pace of life on the Island is very attractive.

PEI seen from the sky

In January 2016 at the beginning of this old year change was afoot, we knew that we had to make a decision, our landlord had indicated his willingness to sell the condo and he was willing to amend our lease so we could exit easily, would we stay in Ottawa were we had lived since 1976 or would we move away.

We had been in August 2015 to Charlottetown, seen the city in the bustle of Summer, cruise ships and all. We had made plans to return in Winter at the suggestion of our friend J.W.D. to see what it was like when the city is quiet and tourist businesses were closed. Metro Charlottetown has a population of about 45,000. still the smallest Provincial Capital of our Dominion. https://www.tourismpei.com/charlottetown-pei

Our biggest concern was if there was anything to do in the low Season. We did return to Charlottetown in February and were here during the Island Statutory Holiday called Islander Day, which is the third Monday of February, we flew from Ottawa to Moncton and then drove the short distance over the Sea Bridge to PEI.  Weather wise it was Winter but much milder than what we had in Ottawa, though this was not our primary concern, our concern was to find enough activity so that we could busy ourselves. We did find a trove of things to do, easily accessible and welcoming to anyone interested immediately.

My first contact was with the Art Gallery at Confederation Centre this giant Memorial theatre, library and Art Gallery dedicated to the Fathers of Confederation who in 1864 had gathered in Charlottetown to map out how Canada would be united into one country.I was hired on the spot based on my previous experience in Ottawa at the National Gallery.

We then proceeded to look actively for a property to rent, many tried to get us to buy a house but frankly we were not interested. We wanted to live in the old 500 block area of original Charlottetown of 1765, close to the quays and surrounded by homes dating from 1820’s, we looked and looked and could not find what we wanted on our shopping list. Then our friend D.S. suggested some properties he knew the owners were looking to rent. We also learned that on PEI homes for rent or for sale do not come on the market, it is all by word of mouth. Someone will rent or sell to you because you fit the portrait of someone they would want to have commerce with. We were recommended by an Islander and so the doors opened. That is not to say that Islanders are not welcoming, no, simply that they guard what they have. PEI is a lot like a small Principality in a way.

Now back in Ottawa we had to make arrangements for our move over 1000 Km from Ontario to PEI. The expense in any move is the truck rental from a reputable firm, we also wanted to use containers to save money on this move. Myself and our friend B.P. did two trips, one to sign the lease and look around the property again, we had only seen it once in February at night. It was fine then and perfect now. The second trip was a few days ahead of the truck itself and carrying our two hounds.  We arrived in May, the truck followed with 4 tons of belongings, it all went pretty smoothly and I then had the apartment totally repainted in colours we liked by a painter who is well known for his work on the Island’s Lighthouses.

When Will arrive in July all was in order. We had changed our licence plates on the car and got our PEI Driver’s licence which was pretty quick, under 30 minutes. We also had to change our Provincial Health Coverage and that was achieved in about 2 minutes, so fast in fact that I was left a little surprised. The Health Ministry then phoned me a week later to tell us Welcome and not to worry all was in order.

Will also found something of interest to him, joining the Board of the PEI Symphony Orchestra. peisymphony.com

Of course 2016 was also the year of the big trip, marking my 60th Birthday, Will’s 70th and our 39 years together as a couple. We returned to Ireland who in 2016 is celebrating the Easter Upraising of 1916 which led to Independence. We travelled all around the Republic and visited Belfast where Will’s family come from, a big tourist mecca these days. I can now say I have seen all of Ireland and crossed the Atlantic from Southhampton to NYC. on a liner. It was a memorable trip, like many of our trips together. http://www.belmond.com/grand-hibernian-train/

Now we are about to celebrate our first Christmas on the Island and the New Year in Charlottetown, already the Festivities for the 150th Anniversary of Confederation has been announced, 2017 will be a very busy year. It all starts with a $100K display of fireworks in front of Province House on Great George Street a few steps away from our home. http://www.city.charlottetown.pe.ca

It has been a whirlwind year and a happy year for us, a new chapter. We have made lots of new friends, socially it has been a very active busy year.

 Peake’s Quay, Confederation Landing and Marina

 

The Tulip of 2017

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150, 1867-2017, 2017, Canada., Confederation, Holland, PEI, tulips

Next year 2017 will mark the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation which is the coming into a union of the original Provinces of Canada. Prior to 1867 British North America was administered from London as a group of colonies. England did not know what to do with its colonies in North America, the government in London did not really want any of it and would have been happy to give the lot away to the first who asked. The business leaders and local politicians in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Quebec and Ontario knew this, so they came together to formalize a Union and form a new country Canada.

To mark the event some very inventive horticulturalist invented a new tulip with our National Colour, White and Red, it will be featured as of next year for the Tulip Festival in Ottawa and elsewhere in Canada. People can buy bulbs at hardware stores. It is a very nice tulip.  Of course the story of tulips in Canada are closely linked to the Royal Family of the Netherlands and the Dutch people. PEI has a large and prosperous Dutch community and tulips are grown here on farms.