The late Queen Elizabeth II had reigned for so long that people have lived and died in 70 years. Although there was a quick succession of death, ascension, abdication, and coronation in the first third of the 20th century, there hasn’t been a change of guard in recent memory. Canadians didn’t get a day off, so o couldn’t find time to travel to London even if I had the airline points to do so, what could I do here to be a witness to history?
Knowing the streets would be partially closed, I cycled to parliament to see the 21-gun salute only to find myself arriving an hour early. So, I cycled to Rideau Hall to see if there was anything going on, turns out I was two hours too early for that, too. But I did an interview in front of the water fountain at the Governor General’s residence with CBC Radio, proving in perpetuity that I was a part of history.
I got back to Parliament Hill in time to see a loud 21-gun salute fired by three howitzers. The way they were pointed at the Ottawa River made it appear as if they were shelling Gatineau on the Quebec side of the river. It would be the first time the redcoats shelled French Canada. When I returned to Rideau Hall, I saw the changing of the guard twice—the military theme ran strong.
Inside, a military band played Frozen’s theme song Let It Go much to the delight of little children, and a guardsman let the public touch a real bearskin helmet. Uniformed household staff serve visitors tea and maple biscuits all afternoon while they see new coins from the mint, pick up a special edition of Canadian Geographic, and listen to the chief heralder explain the new royal symbols.
Militaristic themes run strong in the States because the federal government ramped up veteran recognition after the humiliation returning soldiers faced after defeat in the Vietnam War. Canadian military honor runs parallel being heavily influenced by American culture, but the Canadian military shows off its British roots when its traditions are being celebrated. While the rag-tag Americans rose to rid themselves of monarchy, Canada fought alongside the British to preserve it in the 1770s and again in the War of 1812. Monarchy is a fundamental part of Canadian identity.
There is a sizeable proportion of Canadians who want to rid the country of its ties to monarchy. To those people I say, just as loyalist in the thirteen colonies fled north in the 18th century, they’re welcome to emigrate to the U.S. where people act before they think, believe in simplistic poles of right and wrong, and policies flip flop between depending on which party is in control. Canadians are comparatively different. We think before we act, our leaders forms coalition governments in an act of compromise for the people they represent, and we prefer stability and peace. The monarchy is a symbol of long-term stability, thinking before we do, and a reminder that our country is bigger than our individual wants.
When another Canadian tells me they want to rid the country of the monarchy, I’ll ask three questions. Why didn’t Canada secede with America? What are the differences between America and Canada? Why haven’t you moved to America yet?
