HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1966-04-28, Page 6Centennia
Report
1867 19 67 by JOHN W. FISHER
CENTENNIAL COMMISSIONER
THI) BAUSSIIILS POSTS BRUSSELS •ormAima THURSDAY, APRIL 28th, 19641
Report No. 2
A few weeks ago z made a
s ta,teme4t during a luncheon
address that we at the Centennial.
ceminisa041 in. Ottawa are so
busy we don't have time for cof-
fee breaks.
The next day I was passing an
open door in par office building
and was jolted, by a scene which,
belied, my remark of the day.
before. Two Commission stnfr
members were in spirted conver-
stake). -- over coffees Only the
fact that the time was 5:15 p.m.
(after office hours) softened the
shock to the sensibilities of a
stern administrator.
I was invited into the session.
The two young staffers were Mar-
cell X, a French Canadian, and
John Y, an Einglish Canadian, who
had come to Ottawa a couple of
months earlier to work on Cen-
tennial projects.
"We have made some interest.
ing rediscoveries about the Fath-
ers of Confederation," remarked
Marcel X. "For example, I did not
recollect until I came to work
here, that D'Arcy McGee was for
a time a separatist. And neither
John nor I remembered from his-
tory lessons at school that Sir
Georges-Etienne Cartier had been
exiled for being a rebel with Papi-
neau."
A number of the Fathers of
Confederation did in, fact have
bitter beefs 'which stemmed from
regional interest aim worri,es
about provincial rights, all oL
which they subordinated to the
ideals hoped for in federation. In
fact some of these men were
abandoned by their constituents
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writers. of the confederation per-
iod, fumed against confederation
yet he .jpineci Sir John A's tot
goyerzultow Nov. 16, 1869, (How
ironical that DA our genatenial
train we will shpw his printing
press .which he used to whip con-
federtion!)
I believe that involvement in ,
the 1967 celebratiins will give
Canadians through their 'mats-
ceveries of history, a better under-
standing of themselves and their
place in their country and in the
world. We Canadians in 1907
should be in a mood to look at
history calmly and objectively
and I believe that when we do this
we will be helping to create in
ourselves a tOorout attitude
which will enhance our appreafC4
to SCnne today's problems of
Pa tiouhoed.
Tho.coffee beeak turned out to
be something of value after all.. I
think that discussions oi this. sort
particularly among students, who,
with their teechers and profes-
sors will be drawn tc)
our Centennial 'Year, are good
for Canada,
The Cenntennial Commission is
actively engaged with Canada's
universities on a Centennial pro,
program a aeries. of igatoricgt
semivars will study select strop
of Couodian history, with. °masa-
is en. topics which are controver-
sial, In addition notable lecturers
and artists will inane visits to
campuses and two touring Oen-
! tognial plays, one in English, and,
one in French. are to be produced
with student actors from across
the country. There will be other
learned conferences and seminars
all of which will encourage our
young people to taste advantage
of lessons learned in the pan to
chart the future for Canada.
at home for being too "pro" con-
federation, ,Tesepli Howe of Nova
Soctia one of the most talented
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