It’s Canada Day. We can celebrate. Even the Queen and her friend the Duke are here to share our day with us. Yes, Queen Elizabeth of England has graced our shores. When she landed in Halifax, she had the poor Governor General in a tizzy. The younger woman had to duck down under the hat to make sure she was addressing the Queen and not some woman-in-waiting. What happened after that was probably unimportant.
Whilst in Halifax, the Queen and the Duke (dressed as an admiral), reviewed the ships of the Royal Canadian Navy. Since our country’s navy is frightfully small and is spread over two oceans, the Danish navy and the American coast guard added ships to our line-up to bulk up the viewing.
From Halifax, the royals headed to Ottawa to celebrate Canada Day with the Harper’s. ‘Canadian Emperor entertains English Queen’ is the headline. If she is really honoured, Stephen will play the piano for her.
On Sunday, July 4 she is going to grace a horse race at Toronto’s Woodbine Race Track. Queen’s Plate Day is often a good day at Woodbine but not when royals are present. Society women go all giggly when royals are present. You should see them curtsy. It is the only scene that one can really laugh at.
You should also note that Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair of G20 fame has special powers to arrest you if you laugh at the Queen’s hat at Woodbine. The hat for Plate Day will be the silliest one of the entire trip. If you have ever wondered why the Queen prefers long-legged horses and short-legged dogs to people, it is because of the people who come just to see her. She probably prefers the horses and dogs to the strange people who think being around a royal is important.
But you really do not need a Queen to celebrate Canada Day. The day belongs to our beautiful country and the people who share its opportunities and its bounty. It is a land of riches of the soil, pristine waters and under ever-changing weather from the gentle breezes of summer to the chill winds of winter. It is a land glorious in its color and grandeur from the outports of Newfoundland and Labrador to the wooded coves of Vancouver Island.
What the Queen misses is that Canada is not plaques and horse races and state dinners and walk-abouts. Canada is its people with their roots back to all parts of the world. Canada is the energy and innovation that builds a country. Canada is a civility and tolerance. Rather than be at Woodbine for the Queen’s Plate, the Queen and her friend the duke should be at the Gay Pride parade. She would learn more about Canada.
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