That is so tacky. In the Toronto Star the other day a reporter decried the misery of the squalid life in Ottawa of 1867 when Canada became a nation. What might have surprised the writer was that most world capitals of the era were no less squalid. Cities were rarely created at that time with built-in sewer systems. The Canada of the 19th Century was a land of hopes and dreams and harsh realities. So what if this new country had a rugged, mean, bigoted and quarrelsome population made up of rapacious traders, an uncaring upper-class and work-worn farmers and labourers?
What the Star reporter wrote was a shallow piece about putting plaques on some of the hovels still-standing where the Fathers of Confederation had to bunk when doing business in their new nation’s capital. It is obvious that the writer would prefer to have the unimpressive places torn down before anyone finds out. And that would include the one that is currently reported to be in use by a Tim Horton’s franchise.
But Canada’s survival after 150 years needs to be recognized by more that just some plaques to recognize its entering the teenage years of nationhood. It is a time to start thinking about what we want to be as a grown-up nation.
We need to remember that Canada is no two-bit little principality. We already play with the grown-ups. We are a member of both the Group of Eight Industrialized Nations (G8) and the G20. Now that the nasty Mr. Harper is gone, we are more respected by other nations. We might just have a new Prime Minister who is of more than rock-star status.
When Canada celebrated 100 years of accomplishment and intellectual growth as a nation in 1967, it was a time to celebrate both our past and our future. We met the world at Expo 67 in Montreal as other nations joined our festivities.
Canada’s “hayseed colonials” dubbed the Fathers of Confederation were among the leading politicos of the day. A motley, hard drinking, suspicious bunch of penny-pinchers, there is little pretention as to their foresight or wisdom as nation builders.
But they deserved far better treatment for their efforts that they got. Maybe we do not need the vast mausoleums that the Americans use to honour their nation builders. We are so understated in this regard that it is a national shame. Any true Canadian who has taken the trouble to search out the grave site of Sir John A. Macdonald comes away shocked and horrified at our treatment of the man who more than anyone else created this country.
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Copyright 2016 © Peter Lowry
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