What's In a Name? Ask Phil

Tomorrow is Canada Day. I realized this tonight as I waited in a serpentine queue of several dozen people at the local liquor store. The wait times at the liquor store are typically relative to variables such as time, day, efficacy with which the lady at the cash can split a roll of quarters, etc. There is a certain ebb and flow about it. The longest lines are reserved for the day which precedes a holiday, and are often characterized by a most eclectic demographic. Flip flops and sunglasses perched on foreheads with pinots and Corona, Velcro and yellow-stained staches with king cans and bottles of paint thinner.

Waiting in such a queue can really allow one to stop and ponder the reason why we Canadians celebrate such a day. Commonly also considered to be Canada’s birthday, July 1st 1867 marks the day that Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec formed a union and established the nation as a kingdom under the Queen’s Commonwealth. The British Parliament kept close watch over the new country and maintained some limited form of control up until the final breach occurred with 1982’s Constitutional Act.

Since Canada did not fight a bloody battle to sever ties with Britain, and instead were aided by the slow burning death of the monarchist, it is not considered an independence day as much as it is a birthday. Were that the case, perhaps we would be celebrating Canadian Independence Day, and not possibly the world’s worst named national holiday. Canada Day? Really? Sounds a little too simple for my likes – I much prefer the term Dominion Day, which was first used in 1879 to symbolize the formation of the four provinces.

In 1946, Phileas Cote, a Metis Quebecois in the House of Commons, introduced a private member’s bill to change the name to Canada Day that was later rejected by the Senate. Mr. Cote is also known for his early attempts to establish “O Canada” as the national anthem*. Following the repatriation of the Canadian Constitution in 1982, the name was officially changed in a parliamentary session by a powerful majority to the applause of a people and the ever-bourgeoning sense of national pride. Thanks for planting them seeds Phileas. Leave it to the dude named Phileas to know a thing or two about changing a name.

I think I see ol’ Phil in the queue a few spots ahead of me. He has a king can of 10%Crest nestled under each arm. Anything is better than Corona.





* Editor’s Note: Pretty amazing that a Metis Quebecois fought for two things that are synonomous with our national pride and identity, considering what history teaches us about ethnic cleaveages, the two Red River Rebellions (most importantly 1885) and the fight for sovereignty through referendum. Shitty name for a holiday Phileas, but I respect your efforts, and so should the rest of this nation, most of whom have no clue who you are.