11 January 2014

Sir John A Macdonald Day

Today marks the 199th anniversary of the birth of the one man who has most claim to be the founder of Canada, Sir John Alexander Macdonald.

For a quick introduction to the man and his significance I suggest the Wikipedia article.

Library and Archives Canada, which holds a fine collection of Macdonald archival material, tweeted out a link to a Macdonald web page containing the notice that it is Archived Content.
"This archived Web page remains online for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. This page will not be altered or updated. Web pages that are archived on the Internet are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats."
Let's hope that by the time of the bicentennial the government will show sufficient respect for the country's founder to celebrate without excuses. Maybe they'll also realize that the "hewers of wood and drawers of water (and tarsands)" policy is an outdated basis for a 21st century economy.

2 comments:

  1. There was an article today about his birthplace in Glasgow, in the Toronto Star.

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  2. I always thought it was pretty neat that my paternal grandfather, born in 1889, who lived to be 100 and who I knew, was born during Sir John's time as prime minister.

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