www.whyville.net Jun 27, 2002 Weekly Issue


Canada Day - Confederation

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Canada Day - Confederation


BabyPowdr
Times Writer

In 1867, something big happened. I mean something BIG! Do you know what I am talking about? Of course you do, Giggler01, I see you bouncing in your chair with your hand up already. July 1st, 1967 is when Montreal held home to the Expo. Expo '67 it was called, and why did they build an island and throw a huge party? Because Canada was 100 years old! So that would mean, 1867 is the confederation date of Canada.

Did you know, that in June of 1864, the Great Coalition had been formed in Canada to seek general federation? In September of that year, the maritimes were to hold a conference of their own to discuss a smaller project, the Unionization of the Atlantic colonies. This would strengthen them for the possibility of future attacks from the U. S. of A. Editor's Note: Wow, that's hard to imagine now, isn't it? But the U.S. was extra expansionist back then, wasn't it? Hmmm...

On July 1st, of 1867, the Dominion of Canada began. The motto was taken from the Bible, Psalm 1xxii. 8: "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth...". This is appropriate -- lolz, think about it. We go from Atlantic to Pacific, and from St Lawrence to the Arctic. Sea to sea, and river to ends of the earth.

Consisting of only Nova Scotia, Newbrunswick, North West, Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia by 1873, it still was a vital step that had been taken in 1867. This doesn't seem like a lot, but remember, Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan didn't exist; same with the Yukon, and Nunavit... not yet! The only existing province that did not join was PEI. It took a while to get all the provinces in, but once they were, they stayed.

In 1995, Nunavit joined. It was created out of a larger chunk of the North West. It holds home to many wonderful things, such as beautiful terrain and backgrounds, people, and diamonds.

I love my country, and my people. One country with many people, it is a great place. It is so beautiful, and so nice. Not to say we don't have our problems, but most of the time, this is a peaceful country.

"O Canada" was written by Calixa Lavallee, in Quebec in 1880. This is long before we even had a flag. But the original version of "O Canada" didn't last. Most of English Canada most likely heard it in 1901, when the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall (later King George V and Queen Mary) toured that year. Here is how it used to go:

Richardson version:

    O Canada! Our fathers' land of old
    Thy brow is crown'd with leaves of red and gold.
    Beneath the shade of the Holy Cross
    Thy children own their birth
    No stains thy glorious annals gloss
    Since valour shield thy hearth.
    Almighty God! On thee we call
    Defend our rights, forfend this nation's thrall,
    Defend our rights, forfend this nation's thrall.

Then it became:

McCulloch version:

    O Canada! in praise of thee we sing;
    From echoing hills our anthems proudly ring.
    With fertile plains and mountains grand
    With lakes and rivers clear,
    Eternal beauty, thou dost stand
    Throughout the changing year.
    Lord God of Hosts! We now implore
    Bless our dear land this day and evermore,
    Bless our dear land this day and evermore.

There have been many versions since, and right as of now, the words are:

    O Canada! Our home and native land
    True patriot love thou dost in us command.
    We see thee rising fair, dear land,
    The True North strong and free;
    And stand on guard, O Canada,
    We stand on guard for thee.
    O Canada! O Canada!
    O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.
    O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.

So have a Happy Canada Day, enjoy your fireworks and rodeos... I'm off to get a flag and some sparkles....

~*~BabyPowdr~*~

 

 

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