The second video released by the Young Monarchists. You can find the first video here.
Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour
Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour
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It has been a relatively quiet week for Her Majesty's representatives mirroring the wind down of most government activities for the summer break. July 6thOn Sunday Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston visited Lac-Mégantic on the one year anniversary of the tragic events that occurred there. Their Excellencies attended a memorial mass at Sainte-Agnès Catholic Church at 11am. Following the mass, a new monument was unveiled in front of the church to pay tribute to the 47 people who were killed in the disaster. His Excellency laid a wreath at the monument, on behalf of all Canadians. July 7thHis Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, opened the proceedings of the 40th session of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF), along with the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, and His Excellency Abdou Diouf, Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, in Ottawa. The APF was established in 1967 to create a democratic link between the institutions and people of La Francophonie. The APF is a forum for debate, the discussion of proposals and the sharing of information on all matters that are of common interest to its members. Working in close collaboration with the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF), it initiates and implements action in the areas of inter-parliamentary cooperation and democratic development. In other words its the French equivilent to the British Commonwealth. His Excellency's opening remarks can be found here. Later that day His Excellency, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of Canada, reviewed the departure parade at the Canadian War Museum of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members participating in the Nijmegen Marches. Canadian military contingents have participated in the Nijmegen Marches, a prestigious long-distance marching event held in the Netherlands, since 1952. July 9thHis Honour The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, recognized 11 VQA wines as winners of the 2014 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Ontario Wines. The awards were presented at Queen’s Park. Ontario follows Nova Scotia and British Columbia who recently presented their own awards for excellence in wine. The Ontario winners can be found here. Her Honour The Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, gave a short speech at the United Way’s Red Feather Recognition Tea. The Red Feather was adopted nationally by United Way in 1949 as a symbol of united fund raising and as a symbol of service. The text of the speech can be found here. July 10thHis Honour The Honourable David C. Onley hosted a reception at Queen's Park to recognize student finalists of the Inter-cultural Dialogue Institute’s art and essay contest.
Music on the Lawn 2014 continued with Dock Side Drive (formerly "The Ford 7") entertaining audiences with the music of the 1940s, 50s and 60s. The event wraps up next Thursday with the third and final musical performance. Her Honour The Honourable Judith Guichon is to be congratulated for her promotion of the musical arts. Loyally Yours, A Kisaragi Colour The GTA Branch of the Monarchist League of Canada has put together a short video about The Prince's Gate in Toronto. It was built in 1927 to commemorate Canada's 60th birthday.
Officially opened by the future King Edward VIII and his brother Prince George the gates were given heritage designation in 1987. Great job to everyone involved in putting together this video. The number of royal-related sites in Canada is massive and its good to shed light on some of the lesser known ones. Loyally Yours, A Kisaragi Colour HistoryThe current Oath of Allegiance dates to 1689 and was used in all of the colonies that came together to form Canada. The oath for MPs is entrenched in the constitution while the oath for new citizens, as part of the Oath of Citizenship, is not. A source of trouble I will address further down. Text of the Oath"I, [name], do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors. So help me God." Those with religious reservations may affirm rather than swear. Oath Taken by Members of ParliamentEnglish Text: "I, [name], do swear, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II." French Text: "Je, [nom], jure que je serai fidèle et porterai une vraie allégeance à Sa Majesté la Reine Élizabeth II." Alternate Affirmation: "I, [name], do solemnly, sincerely and truly affirm and declare the taking of an oath is according to my religious belief unlawful, and I do also solemnly, sincerely and truly affirm and declare that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II." Oath of CitizenshipEnglish Text:
"I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen." French Text: "Dorénavant, je promets fidélité et allégeance au Canada et à Sa Majesté Elizabeth Deux, Reine du Canada. Je m'engage à respecter les droits et libertés de notre pays, à défendre nos valeurs démocratiques, à observer fidèlement nos lois et à remplir mes devoirs et obligations de citoyen(ne) canadien(ne)." The current Oath of Citizenship dates from 1947. There have been various changes proposed including making a reference to 'Canadian Values' (for now I'll ignore the absurd suggestion of removing the monarch). On this matter I share W. L. Morton's sentiment that because Canadians owe their allegiance to a monarch, rather than to an intangible concept like 'the People', there was no pressure on anyone to conform to a single 'Canadian way of life'; as he stated "the society of allegiance admits of a diversity the society of compact does not, and one of the blessings of Canadian life is that there is no Canadian way of life, much less two, but a unity under the Crown admitting of a thousand diversities." Loyally Yours, A Kisaragi Colour June 30thHis Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, was in Arnprior, Ontario on Monday to show his support for Clara Hughes’ efforts to raise awareness of mental health issues. His Excellency met with His Worship David Reid, Mayor of Arnprior before hopping on his bicycle to -race- join Olympic medallist Clara Hughes when she arrives in the city for Clara’s Big Ride for Bell Let’s Talk. Clara Hughes has visited every province and territory in Canada to help raise national awareness of mental health and end the stigma surrounding mental illness. Clara’s Big Ride began on March 14, 2014, in Toronto, and will conclude on Canada Day, in Ottawa. His Excellency presented Clara Hughes with the Meritorious Service Cross and gave a few remarks. Later in the day His Excellency announced 86 new appointments to the Order of Canada. The Order of Canada, one of our country’s highest civilian honours, was established in 1967, during Canada’s centennial year, to recognize outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Over the last 45 years, more than 6 000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order. The full list of new appointments can be found on the Governor General's website. The Honourable Frank Lewis, Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island issued an invitation to Islanders and visitors alike to consider a visit to Government House to "capture their own piece of photographic history". During the Charlottetown Conference the delegates posed for the only known photo of the event. The steps of Government House have place markers to indicate where each of the Charlottetown Conference attendees stood or sat to help visitors recreate the historic photo. Recently Her Majesty's vice-regal representatives got together and did just that. Additional information can be found here. His Honour the Honourable Frank F. Fagan, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador and Honorary Colonel of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, along with Her Honour Patricia Fagan will attend the First Battalion, Royal Newfoundland Regiment Mess Dinner at Pleasantville, to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Beaumont Hamel. The WW1 Battle of Beaumont Hamel was part of the larger Battle of the Somme in which many Newfoundlanders lost their lives. July 1stThe Governor General started the day off by delivering a Message on the Occasion of Canada Day. The text and a link to the video can be found here. His Excellency presented the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award to 8 volunteers who have contributed to making local communities smarter and more caring in an outdoor ceremony on the grounds of Rideau Hall. Created in 1995, the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award recognizes living Canadians and permanent residents who have made a significant, sustained, unpaid contribution to their community, in Canada or abroad. Often working behind the scenes, these individuals volunteer their time and efforts to help their fellow citizens. The award also brings to light the example set by volunteers, whose compassion and engagement are a part of our Canadian character. His Excellency gave a few remarks for the occasion. Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston attended the Canada Day Noon Show on Parliament Hill where he gave a short speech. Where does he find the time to write all of them? His Excellency wasn't the only vice-regal representative attending Canada Day celebrations. The Honourable Philip S. Lee, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, Attended the 2014 Opening Ceremonies for Canada Day at Lyric Theatre, Assiniboine Park. Meanwhile a little to the west The Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, hosted the Lieutenant Governor’s Garden Party at Government House. It was a more sombre affair in Newfoundland where The Honourable Frank F. Fagan attended the Memorial Day Service at the National War Memorial in St. John’s. His Honour also officiated at the Unveiling Ceremony of the new Veterans’ Memorial Monument in Outer Cove. Back to Manitoba where The Honourable Philip S. Lee attended a Citizenship Ceremony at Lyric Theatre. Congratulations to all the new Canadians! July 2ndThe Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, presided over the swearing-in ceremony of new Members of Provincial Parliament, who took the Oath of Allegiance. Astronaut Chris Hadfield performed “O Canada” at the conclusion of the ceremony. The Honourable Philip S. Lee hosted reception in honour of the Wellness Institute at Seven Oaks General Hospital's partnership with the Chinese Hospital Association at Government House. The Wellness Institute opened in October 1996 with a mandate to provide the community with services that promote health, prevent illness and disability, and restore wellness. July 3rdOn Thursday The Honourable David C. Onley delivered the Speech from the Throne, opening the 41st Parliament of Ontario. The text of the Throne Speech can be found here. The Honourable Philip S. Lee attended the VIP Reception and Grand Opening Ceremonies for the Journey to Churchill at Assiniboine Park Zoo. Last week His Honour attended a donor celebration for those who made the exhibit possible. In British Columbia The Honourable Judith Guichon, the Lieutenant Governor, hosted 'Music on the Lawn 2014'. Throughout July outdoor music shows will be performed on the east lawn of Government House. The Timebenders Experience performed this week going through 60 years of musical styles. July 4thThe Honourable J.J. Grant, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, announced that three Nova Scotia wines have been selected to receive the inaugural Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence in Nova Scotia Wines. The award, established by His Honour, recognizes the exceptional quality of locally sourced and produced wines and honours the dedication and passion of those involved with Nova Scotia's wine industry. July 5thDue to tropical storm Arthur, public tours of Nova Scotia's Government House were cancelled on Saturday. Tours will resume Sunday July 6 at 10am. Hopefully the Maritimes are dry by then.
Loyally Yours, A Kisaragi Colour God Save The Queen (or God Save The King) is the Canadian Royal Anthem and is played when members of the Royal Family are present. The Vice-regal Salute is comprised of the first three lines of God Save The Queen, followed by the first and last lines of O Canada. It is played when the Governor General or Lieutenant Governors are present.  An early version of the song God Save The Queen also serves as the Royal Anthem of Britain, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Tuvalu.
The third verse of the English version is unique to Canada but rarely sung in modern times. Pity.
Loyally Yours, A Kisaragi Colour  Postcard, 1905 Happy Canada Day! Today I thought I'd take a look back at how Canada Day evolved into the celebration we know today. Of course, to do that we need to start with the origin of Canada's name. The term Canada is derived from the St. Lawrence Iroquoian word 'kanata' meaning village. French explorer Jacques Cartier erroneously applied it to the entire region and the Rivière de Canada (the Saint Lawrence River). Of the many, many misunderstandings that would result between Europeans and the various tribes of North American this probably counts as the most benign.  If you remember Historica Minutes on TV you had a good childhood. Under French rule 'Canada' refered to the colony along the Saint Lawrence River. Due to being the most developed of the French colonies the terms 'New France' and 'Canada' were often used interchangeably. With the British conquest of New France in 1763 the colony was renamed 'The Province of Quebec' after the colony's largest settlement. After the arrival of the Loyalists it became expedient to divide the colony in 1791. Since Canada was still the name of the region the two new colonies were called Upper and Lower Canada. When Confederation was being negotiated it was proposed by a delegate from either Nova Scotia or New Brunswick that the new union be called Canada. That said here are some alternative names that were proposed (many of which prove that in every age there are people who shouldn't be allowed to name things): Anglia, Albionoria, Borealia, Cabotia, Colonia, Efisga, Hochelaga, Laurentia, Mesopelagia, New Albion, Norland, Superior, Tuponia, Transatlantica, Ursalia, Vesperia, Victorialand  Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley With one part of the name agreed upon the delegates tried to decide on the long-form of the name. Sir John A. Macdonald favoured calling the new entity a kingdom but British officials were wary of frightening/annoying/bugging the United States. It is a popular story that New Brunswick premier Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley came up with the alternate suggestion of 'dominion' after reading his morning devotions, Psalm 72:8, which states "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth". This story has been questioned as the term dominion had been applied to other entities beforehand and is not innovative. Personally I feel this is an irrelevant point; conservatism done right is about looking to the past for inspiration regarding the present. Whatever the origin the Fathers of Confederation broadened the term from being 'a major colonial possession' to being a synonym for a sovereign state. Secretary of State for the Colonies Lord Carnarvon stated in a letter to Queen Victoria: "The North American delegates are anxious that the United Provinces should be designated as the 'Dominion of Canada.' It is a new title, but intended on their part as a tribute to the Monarchical principle which they earnestly desire to uphold." July 1st was celebrated unofficially in 1867 with the ringing of the bells at the Cathedral Church of St. James in Toronto and "bonfires, fireworks and illuminations, excursions, military displays and musical and other entertainments". On June 20th of the following year Governor General the Viscount Monck issued a royal proclamation asking for Canadians to celebrate the anniversary of Confederation. It would not be until 1879 that the holiday became official under the name 'Dominion Day'. The celebration of Confederation ranked low in both the official and popular calendar of holidays for a number of years. It was not until 1958 that the government started being involved in the celebrations on a yearly basis. Before this the Governor General would hold a small party at Rideau Hall and milestone years would be celebrated officially but other than that it was up to local communities to host their own celebrations. The holiday was officially renamed to 'Canada Day' in 1982 due to a somewhat embarrassing episode where there were only 12 MPs in Parliament when the voting started. So have a happy Canada Day (or Dominion Day for the more traditionally-minded). Canada is today a spry 147 years young. Loyally Yours, A Kisaragi Colour
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AboutThis website is intended to be a resource for those arguing in favour of Canada's monarchy, researching Canada's royal past, or wondering what the various vice-regal representatives of the Canadian Crown are up to currently. As well, articles about other monarchies may appear from time to time. Archives
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Elsie Wayne 1932-2016
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