Oh Canada!

I thought I would take this opportunity on July 1 to write about Canada Day. Most Americans are generally too self-absorbed (myself especially) to take notice of any national holidays other than their own, and our celebration of Independence Day on July 4th generally eclipses that of Canada's celebration of Canada Day (a.k.a. Dominion Day) on July 1st. What makes matters worse is that apparently this year, many Canada Day celebrations are being cancelled due to the continuing strike by municipal workers, a fact lost on most Americans. Not helping people! How am I supposed to help promote Canada Day when there's no fanfare to write about?  

Back to the history lesson. On July 1, 1867, the enactment of the British North American Act united the four provinces of Canada to become a single country. In reality, it was the joining of three provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada) along with the simultaneous division of the Province of Canada into two provinces: Ontario and Quebec. That seems odd, but whatever. It was probably the Quebecians' idea anyway.

Now while Canada had its own dominion from that point forward, British Parliament still had its hooks into Canada and kept limited rights and political control for over a century later. The last vestiges of control ended in 1982. This is not unlike the eventual turnover of Hong Kong to China in 1997. 

Many communities across Canada will host organized celebrations of Canada Day, usually outdoor public events such as parades, carnivals, festivals, barbecues, air and maritime shows, fireworks and free musical concerts. For Torontonians, this celebration will be in the abstract this year. They've got a municipal strike by those who aren't paying any heed to Canada Day's stunning lack of PR. 

Punchlines

I loved that episode of Fantasy Island where Mr. Roarke arranged for one of his clients to...

...impersonate a plane making love with another. In the moment of climax, Tattoo would cry out, "Deplane! Deplane!"