Canada Day 2002
It was called Dominion Day for decades, Canada Day since 1982, our national holiday marking the 1867 Confederation, the British North America Act, the unification of Upper and Lower Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia into the Dominion of Canada.Over the years, Canada Day celebrations have grown into at least a weekend event (see the calendar below for details); some feel it is part of an even longer celebration - this from the government of CanadaCélafête site:
"In 1995, the Minister of Canadian Heritage invited all Canadians, during the ten days of festivities leading up to July 1, to take part in a new initiative entitled 'Celebrate Canada!". From June 21, National Aboriginal Day, through Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day on June 24 and Neighbour Aid Day on June 25 and culminating with our country's 129th anniversary on July 1, Canadians were encouraged to participate in the various events organized in communities across Canada."
The Bring Back Dominion Day loonies have lost or abandoned their page on the NBCi site—dang, wish I'd saved a copy of that—but the Monarchist League of Canada is still active, and worth a look if only for curiosity value.
(as I had mentioned last year, it was interesting to learn that so much of the language of our national lore—the use of the word Dominion, the lyrics in the national anthem, the motto A Mari Usque Ad Mare on Canada's coat of arms—derives from the 72nd Psalm of the Bible.)
For the curious and studious, the National Library of Canada has a plenty of information on the Day, as does the most irreducibly Canadian site of all, the Government of Canada's Canada Site
Canada Day for most of us, though, means a welcome break. In Montreal, there's a parade on Saturday and music and other events throughout the weekend. Here's the rundown, from the Celafete celebrations schedule:
Parade & Fireworks
Monday, July 1, 2002 - 11amOld Port Of Montreal - Arabesque Stage (Entrée Quai Jacques-Cartier)
"Great Montrealers, you have saved Canada" is the theme of this 25th Canada Day Parade, jointly organized by Dr Singh and Club Canada 2067.
The parade will begin at the corner of Fort Street and St.Catherine West at 11:00 a.m., will go to Peel Street, turn south to René Lévesque then west to Dominion Square at Place du Canada arriving at 11:40 a.m.
An official ceremony follows, along with a birthday-cake celebration, public performances and on-going revelry until 4:30 p.m.
Other Military and Pipe & Drum parades take place at the Old Port throughout the weekend. See the Célafête schedule for other planned events.
Official Ceremony (Montreal)
Monday, July 1st 2002, 11:30 amOld Port Of Montreal - Arabesque Stage (Entrée Quai Jacques-Cartier)
The formal July 1st ceremony is also conducted on the Arabesque Stage Jacques-Cartier Pier entrance. The festivities include: a cannon salvo, military music, the RCMP Honour Guard, a review of the troupes, a flag-raising ceremony, entertainment and the sharing of enormous birthday cakes.
Entertainment & Activities
A variety of theatre, circus, and even hip hop performances will be taking place throughout the weekend (Begins Saturday at noon at the Old Port - see the Célafête schedule for details).Music
Saturday, June 29, 2002 - 8:30 pmArabesque - Entrée Quai Jacques-Cartier
Yelo Molo
Sunday, June 30, 2002 - 8:30 pm
Grande Scène - Quai Jacques Cartier
Kevin Parent
Zachary Richard
Monday, July 1st, 2002 - 8:30 pm
Grande Scène - Quai Jacques Cartier
Martin Deschamps
Dj Daniel Desnoyers
Angel Forrest
Plume Latraverse
Blue Rodeo
Bob Walsh
First Peoples, new views
José Navas
Faster, pussycat!
Do you . . . do you design?
The Street 02