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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-05-17, Page 6/", 6 Signal Star • Wednesday, May 17, 2017 opinion GNentM1 Signal -Star Victoria Day VOL. 26 – ISSUE 10 PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 Signal Star Publishing 120 Huckins St. Goderich ON N7A 3X8 519-524-2614 www.goderichsignalstar.com POSTMEDIA JOHN BAUMAN Group Manager, Media Sales jbauman@postmedia.com ext. 232 JANET SHRIER Office Manager jashrier@postmedia.com ext. 220 KATHLEEN SMITH Editor katsmith@postmedia.com ext. 211 SUSAN MCINTOSH Sales smcintosh@postmedia.com ext. 228 TARA CORRAN Sales tcorran@postmedia.com ext. 230 STACEY SCOTT Inside Sales sscott@postmedia.com ext. 229 RHONDA BUTT Accounting rhbutt@postmedia.com MARY JOHNSTON Accounts Receivable majohnston@postmedia.com CURTIS ARMSTRONG Group Director of Media Sales 519 376-2250 ext. 514301 or 510 364-2001 ext. 531024 Editorial Deadline - Friday 2 p.m. Advertising booking deadline - Friday 1:30 p.m. SUBSCRIPTION RATES ADVANCE: Regular $50.00 includes GST (12 months) Seniors $50.00 includes GST (14 months) US $249.00 plus GST Foreign $416.40 pkrs GST Single Copy $1.50 includes GST Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDEUVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES: CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 120 Huckins St, Goderich ON N7A 3X8 For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: 519-524-2614 Goderich Signal Star is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For more information or to file a complaint go to www.mediacamcil.ca or call toll free 1-844-877-1163. The Goderich Signal Star shall not be Liable for failure to publish an ad for typographical errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of that portion of the ad in which the error occurred. The Goderich Signal -Star reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement. The Goderich Signal -Star is a proud member of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA) and The Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA). Member of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association and the Canadian Community Newspaper Association. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. ocna uanaua The oldest statutory holiday in Canada Kathleen Smith Goderich Signal Star As the oldest state holiday in Canada and the unofficial start of summer, Victoria Long Weekend is fast upon us again. It is more than likely that there is not a single Canadian alive today, who was born under the reign of Queen Victoria who reigned as the British Monarch for 63 years. Victoria Day, celebrated since at least 1845 in Canada exactly on May 24, no matter what day of the week, to honour the Queen's birth- day, May 24, 1819. The celebrations included pic- nics, sporting tournaments, parades and fireworks - not too dis- tant from the modern day Victoria Day Long Weekend festivities. It wasn't until her death in 1901, that the Canadian Parliament decided to make her birthday an annual holiday and again in 1952 declared it would be celebrated on the Monday before May 24 every year. Queen Victoria was Canada's sovereign at the time of Confedera- tion in 1867; she was one longest sitting monarchs; she inspired an entire era named after her; she can also be credited with turning Ottawa into'Canada's capital. It is obvious to acknowledge the influence and Legacy that Queen Victoria has left on our great nation, and as a celebration that is older than Canada Day, the Victo- ria Day Long Weekend is intrinsi- cally and authentically Canadian. Despite other monarchs birth- days to celebrate and honour, or other suggested and failed holi- days, Victoria Day continues on as File photo Victoria Day celebrations will soon _be underway as the weekend approaches. strong and resilient as the Queen it is named after and as a distinctly Canadian holiday. 'Ihe modern concept of Victoria Day into 'May 2-4' Weekend, is less about reigning monarchs and more about welcoming the warmer weather and possibly getting away from everyday stressors for the weekend. As the weather warms up, more people are spending time outside, whether it be for reasons of garden- ing, or children playing in the parks and the streets. On Victoria Day Long Weekend, if the weather doesn't disappoint, people continue to celebrate the tradition of the holiday with BBQs, parades, camping and going to cot- tages to escape the rush of every- day life while taking a moment to breath and enjoy the nature of our country, and fireworks. Being the unofficial start of sum- mer, many Canadians make the weekend worthwhile with activi- ties, weekend trips, relaxing, spending time with family and friends and of course enjoying a few cold, adult beverages. According to media reports from previous years, they have indicated that Canadian breweries see an increase of 15-20 percent in beer sales before the Victoria Day Long Weekend. The most important thing about enjoying the 'May 2-4' Weekend is to do so responsibly. Without sounding like I am standing on my soapbox, with an increase of beer sales and warmer weather, as well as people going away for the week- end, the chances of injury or fatal- ity increase. I cannot speak for everyone, but majority of us have known someone personally or through a friend, who has suffered the loss of a loved one due to drunk or impaired driving. I am someone who likes to cele- brate long weekends, but enjoying festivities responsibly keeps every- one safe. Enjoying responsibly means you will be around to con- tinue to enjoy long weekends in years to come. Originating as a birthday celebra- tion to honour a reigning monarch, letter to the editor A great way to honour Huron pioneers Dear Editor, My husband Ray and 1 read that the theme of the Huron County tent at the International Plowing Match will be Huron Heritage. What a great way to honour our Huron pioneers. We are so proud of our pioneer families - Storey, Young, Dale, Snell, McIntosh, McCloud, Riley, Dempsey, McClure and Flynn. These families came from Scot- land, Ireland and England, then walked from Canada's East coast, through the bush, carrying all their worldly possessions, to find their claim of land in McKillop and Hul= lett townships in the 1850s. They had to clear minimum acreage and build a habitable dwelling within a specific time limit to obtain their letter patent and land deed, using only the resources that they brought with them. Our ancestors prospered, cleared more land and helped make Huron County the 'agricultural engine' that is it today, while preserving some of KoatTakes to a national long weekend driven by getting away and drinking cold beer, Victoria Day Long Weekend is a Canadian tradition that seems to have morphed. One way to look at it is that it has changed from a celebration to hon- our our sovereign who was a con- tributing aspect to Canadian Con- federation, to a weekend full of empty bottles and sunburns. Anotherway, is that it hasn't changed all that much; people are still celebrating with picnics, parades, fireworks and celebrating our great nation, rather than cele- brating a monarch's birthday. As a celebration that is older than Confederation, Victoria Day Long Weekend is just a part of the fibre that is Canadian, and will continue to be celebrated for years to come and by citizens that much more removed from the Victorian era. the best soil and cleanest water and air in the world. We congratulate all councils of Huron County for honouring our Huron agricultural pioneers at the Huron International Plowing Match 2017. Barbara Storey Huron County LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - Signal Star welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include the writer's full name, address, daytime phone number and signature (for verifica- tion). Anonymous letters will not be published. We reserve the right to edit all editorial submissions including letters for clarification, style and length. Let- ters must be signed and he in good taste and follow the laws of libel and slander.