The Monarchist League of Canada has announced that Neil
MacAlasdair has stepped down as National Young Monarchist
Chairman in order to continue his studies at Cambridge
University. Taking his place as National Chairman is Dylan
Mainprize of Dundas, Ontario. I caught up with Dylan in
order to ask him about his new duties.
MacAlasdair has stepped down as National Young Monarchist
Chairman in order to continue his studies at Cambridge
University. Taking his place as National Chairman is Dylan
Mainprize of Dundas, Ontario. I caught up with Dylan in
order to ask him about his new duties.
A Kisaragi Colour: Can you tell me a little about yourself?
Dylan Mainprize: Well I'm a 4th year student at McMaster
University studying communication studies and history. For
the most part I'd said I'm not terribly out of the ordinary, I
love hockey (the Montreal Canadiens specifically), soccer,
running, rugby, jokes and spending time with my friends -
nothing particularly exceptional. I'd said what defines me
most as a person is my loyalty to my country. My friends often
joke that I can be a tad over-zealous at times with in comes to
my nation, but the way I see it the love of country is an
inherently selfless love. A focus on your community has the
greater capacity to promote good as opposed to an inward-
looking individualistic focus, which is not necessarily a
negative thing but not really my style.
University studying communication studies and history. For
the most part I'd said I'm not terribly out of the ordinary, I
love hockey (the Montreal Canadiens specifically), soccer,
running, rugby, jokes and spending time with my friends -
nothing particularly exceptional. I'd said what defines me
most as a person is my loyalty to my country. My friends often
joke that I can be a tad over-zealous at times with in comes to
my nation, but the way I see it the love of country is an
inherently selfless love. A focus on your community has the
greater capacity to promote good as opposed to an inward-
looking individualistic focus, which is not necessarily a
negative thing but not really my style.
AKC: How did you come to be a monarchist?
DM: I'm a monarchist because I'm Canadian. Perhaps not a
complicated answer, but the most accurate one. I support my
country in all its endeavours and I do not separate the concept
of my country and my Queen. Her Majesty the Queen, and the
Crown in general, is deeply intertwined with Canadian
culture, of which I am a product of - I was taught English and
French (the ladder unfortunately is not at the level it should
be), read "The Hockey Sweater", studied our history and
indeed raised to recognize the benefits I have because of my
Queen and Country. The Crown is a part of my heritage - a
part of Canadian heritage.
complicated answer, but the most accurate one. I support my
country in all its endeavours and I do not separate the concept
of my country and my Queen. Her Majesty the Queen, and the
Crown in general, is deeply intertwined with Canadian
culture, of which I am a product of - I was taught English and
French (the ladder unfortunately is not at the level it should
be), read "The Hockey Sweater", studied our history and
indeed raised to recognize the benefits I have because of my
Queen and Country. The Crown is a part of my heritage - a
part of Canadian heritage.
AKC: You have just been named the National Chairman of
the Young Monarchists. How did this come about?
the Young Monarchists. How did this come about?
DM: I've been a member of the League for a while now and
with Neil MacAlasdair stepping down to pursue his studies I
suppose I seemed to be a logical choice. I hesitate to declare
myself a uniquely charismatic person, I'd not want to seem
too self-aggrandizing, but I do believe I'm good a interacting
with people and building relationships. For that reason I do
believe I will be an effective representative of the League and
Chairman of the Young Monarchists.
with Neil MacAlasdair stepping down to pursue his studies I
suppose I seemed to be a logical choice. I hesitate to declare
myself a uniquely charismatic person, I'd not want to seem
too self-aggrandizing, but I do believe I'm good a interacting
with people and building relationships. For that reason I do
believe I will be an effective representative of the League and
Chairman of the Young Monarchists.
AKC: What will your duties consist of?
DM: My duties will be to promote the League among our
nation's youth, help organize existing Young Monarchists and
to grow youth membership.
nation's youth, help organize existing Young Monarchists and
to grow youth membership.
AKC: You mentioned before that you are a student at
McMaster University. What has been the response to the
Young Monarchists on campus?
McMaster University. What has been the response to the
Young Monarchists on campus?
DM: I'd say the response has been mostly positive. Many
University students are curious about the Crown in Canada
and often passively support its vital role. The struggle is to
translate this passive support into a more active support. I do
not necessarily expect every student with monarchist leanings
to join the League, of course I'd be thrilled for them to join,
but I see any student going out of their way to learn more
about one of their culture's most important institutions to be
a success story. Once in while I will run into a fervent
republican but I'd say overt hostility to the Crown and the
League is rare.
University students are curious about the Crown in Canada
and often passively support its vital role. The struggle is to
translate this passive support into a more active support. I do
not necessarily expect every student with monarchist leanings
to join the League, of course I'd be thrilled for them to join,
but I see any student going out of their way to learn more
about one of their culture's most important institutions to be
a success story. Once in while I will run into a fervent
republican but I'd say overt hostility to the Crown and the
League is rare.
AKC: The Young Monarchists recently produced a series of
videos about its activities which were posted and shared
online. How important do you feel online promotion is
compared to word of mouth?
videos about its activities which were posted and shared
online. How important do you feel online promotion is
compared to word of mouth?
DM: Given the huge role social media and the internet play in
today's society, particularly among the youth, I consider
maintaining and expanding an online presence to be of
utmost importance. As with any national organization the
League has to go where the people are. Today people are
spending more and more time online, adapting to the new
media landscape is how the League can build a larger
following among the youth. Gaining followers by word of
mouth is certainly wonderful but online expansion has
potential to reach new audiences that may not have any
substantial connections to the League.
today's society, particularly among the youth, I consider
maintaining and expanding an online presence to be of
utmost importance. As with any national organization the
League has to go where the people are. Today people are
spending more and more time online, adapting to the new
media landscape is how the League can build a larger
following among the youth. Gaining followers by word of
mouth is certainly wonderful but online expansion has
potential to reach new audiences that may not have any
substantial connections to the League.
I'd like to thank Dylan for taking the time to answer my questions and I look forward to seeing what direction he takes
the Young Monarchists in the future.
Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour
the Young Monarchists in the future.
Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour
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