Summer Season and the National Holidays in Canada

Depending on your point of view or decrees of Parliament in Ottawa, we have 2 National Holidays, one is on 24 June know as La Saint-Jean or La Fête Nationale, the other is July 1 Canada Day also known as Dominion Day. Of course we all know now that Ottawa is actually built on Algonquin land, meaning that we are squatters? Parliament has not addressed that one yet, but I am sure it is coming.

Lucky us the weather since 21 June finally turned warm but not hot. So as tradition decrees the Governor General's Foot Guard, he also has a Horse Guard but they are stationed in Toronto,
are at Rideau Hall for the Annual Inspection Ceremony.

The Governor General, His Excellency, the Right Honorable David Johnston, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M. inspects the Guards.
You can also see them every morning at 10 am sharp on Parliament Hill and at Rideau Hall.

Gate at Rideau Hall

Rideau Hall Residence of the Governor General of Canada since 1867. The other Residence is at the Citadelle of Quebec City where the GG spends part of the Summer months. Rideau Hall is open to the public and can be visited.

Also with summer, you can see the Musical Ride of the RCMP which is quite the exciting show with lots of dressage and horsemanship.

Finally as we enter into Canada Week, I unfurled my old Canadian flag, the one which has travelled with me all over the world for the last 33 years and has been on display every Dominion or Canada Day. This year it hangs from our balcony, the neighbours have already complimented us.

A quote in a book

Today we took a break from the move and went to the National Gallery of Canada on Sussex Drive to see an exhibit marking the 150th Anniversary of Italian Unity, it features an exhibit of works by Caravaggio and painters of his time who were influenced by his style. Afterwards, we went to have lunch across the street in the Market, since we had time we decided to visit the Nicholas Hoare Bookstore, which always has a treasure trove of books. I found a new book, a biography on General Georges Vanier (1888-1967) and his wife Pauline Archer Vanier written by Mary Frances Coady.

His Excellency, the Right Honourable, General Georges Vanier was the 19th Governor General of Canada since 1867 and the first French Canadian to occupy the position of Commander in Chief and Vice Roy of Canada, two Prime Minister's served under him, John Diefenbaker and Lester B. Pearson. A war hero (1914-1918), a founder of the Royal 22nd Regiment of Quebec, a diplomat, he was the first Canadian Ambassador to France (1946). He also started the policy of official bilingualism, (French, English) in the Canadian army. His wife Pauline and he were also humanitarians, actively involved in many organizations to help Canadian families and the disadvantaged, they also helped change the restrictive immigration rules to permit 188,000 refugees from Europe to come to Canada after the Second World War. They had five children and one, Jean has become famous for his work with the handicapped
his Foundation L'Arche is very well known, I had the honour to meet him in Jordan some years ago and was very impressed with him.

A quote by General Georges Vanier from his speech upon becoming Governor General of Canada in 1959, struck me,  he said: If Canada is to become a great Nation, each one of us must ask ourselves, how can I serve.  His was a time when people served others and their country without asking what they were getting in return or demanding rights.

H.E. the Right Honorable, General Georges Vanier wearing on this photo his uniform of Governor General of Canada with his wife Pauline.