It's sad. Too few Canadians actually know the meaning of their national and provincial symbols. Take the hoopla over Alberta's new licence plates. Talk over whether or not to put the provincial motto on the plates is causing a controversy.
Some quarters of our population think that putting 'Strong and Free', the English version of the Province's Latin Motto, Fortis and Liber, on licence plates represents Americanization of Alberta politics. Some Anti-Ottawa politicians and pundits think creating a distinction between Alberta and the rest of Canada is a great.(One gets the idea that they are more loyal to the land of their birth than the country that accepted them as immigrants.) Most Albertans do not.
But all sides in this discussion are way off base. It is ridiculous to suggest that ideas of strength and freedom are not linked to Canada's place within the British Empire. It lessens Alberta's place in the world to suggest the province does not share in that tradition. Or that the founders of the province were not loyal to those institutions.
'Strong and Free', in the Albertan context, has nothing to do with the United States of America. And while the ideas of creating and federating new Canadian provinces were radical in their day, the motto itself has little to do with political reform. It is a motto, handed to us by the Crown, indicating that our province's strength and freedom are tied to parliamentary democracy.
'Strong and Free' symbolizes Alberta's links to the Canadian Crown and pays tribute to the fortitude of Canadians who settled the NWT in the days before The District of Alberta, NWT, became a province. 'Strong and Free' is proudly Canadian. And Albertans remain deeply loyal Canadians.
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Saturday's at the Fort (Macleod,Home of the NWMP)
NEWS RELEASE
01 July 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lethbridge Author at Fort Macleod’s Saturdays at the Fort
Lethbridge, Alberta -- Jane Harris Zsovan (who writes under the name of Jane Harris) is pleased to share her love of Alberta’s history with visitors to Saturdays at the Fort, at the Fort Museum of the Northwest Mounted Police in Fort Macleod, Alberta this summer.
She will sign copies of Stars Appearing: The Galts’ Vision of Canada (2006), at two Saturdays at the Fort: The first runs this Saturday, July 05, from 11:00am to 4:00 pm.
She will make a second Saturdays at the Fort appearance, August 16, 2008, 11a.m.to4:00p.m.
Harris Zsovan is delighted to be part of this program of art, book signings and events in one of Alberta’s most historic towns. “Fort Macleod played a significant role in the development of the Canadian identity. The image of Canada (in the minds of Europeans, Americans, and even Canadians themselves) was influenced greatly by images of Fort Macleod, The Northwest Mounted Police, and The District of Alberta, N.W.T,” says Harris Zsovan.
Stars Appearing: The Galts’ Vision of Canada is the first book in the Vision of Canada Series, which uncovers Canada's role in inspiring the reformation of the world's most powerful 19th Century empire (The British Empire) into a federation of democracies. Jane is currently researching the people who made up Alberta society when The Marquis of Lorne, Governor General of Canada, visited Fort Macleod, N.W.T. in 1881; Alberta’s role in the 19th century Social Reform Movement, and the part Grand Valley, Ontario settlers played in pioneering communities in central Alberta.
Harris Zsovan’s articles have appeared in more than a dozen publications including Alberta Views, Alberta Venture, Award, The National Post, Western Standard, Microsoft Home Magazine, The Anglican Planet, Christian Week, Maranatha News and Faith Today.
In April 2008, Harris Zsovan contributed ”Jessie’s Generation: Canada’s Firebrands of Mercy and Justice” to Hot Apple Cider: Stories to Warm the Soul & Stir the Heart, an anthology of Canadian writers. The chapter tells one strand of the story Harris Zsovan hopes to capture fully in future books and articles: the social reform movement to Canada’s poor that began well before confederation.
-30-
For Information about Jane Harris Zsovan’s writing contact:
Jane Harris Zsovan
Email: janehz@telus.net
Blog: www.visionofcanada.blogspot.com
For Information about Saturdays at the Fort contact:
Kim Driscoll,The Fort-Museum of the NWMP
Fort Macleod, Alberta T0L 0Z0
Phone: 403 553 4703 Toll Free: 1-866-273-6841
Website: http://www.nwmpmuseum.com/
01 July 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lethbridge Author at Fort Macleod’s Saturdays at the Fort
Lethbridge, Alberta -- Jane Harris Zsovan (who writes under the name of Jane Harris) is pleased to share her love of Alberta’s history with visitors to Saturdays at the Fort, at the Fort Museum of the Northwest Mounted Police in Fort Macleod, Alberta this summer.
She will sign copies of Stars Appearing: The Galts’ Vision of Canada (2006), at two Saturdays at the Fort: The first runs this Saturday, July 05, from 11:00am to 4:00 pm.
She will make a second Saturdays at the Fort appearance, August 16, 2008, 11a.m.to4:00p.m.
Harris Zsovan is delighted to be part of this program of art, book signings and events in one of Alberta’s most historic towns. “Fort Macleod played a significant role in the development of the Canadian identity. The image of Canada (in the minds of Europeans, Americans, and even Canadians themselves) was influenced greatly by images of Fort Macleod, The Northwest Mounted Police, and The District of Alberta, N.W.T,” says Harris Zsovan.
Stars Appearing: The Galts’ Vision of Canada is the first book in the Vision of Canada Series, which uncovers Canada's role in inspiring the reformation of the world's most powerful 19th Century empire (The British Empire) into a federation of democracies. Jane is currently researching the people who made up Alberta society when The Marquis of Lorne, Governor General of Canada, visited Fort Macleod, N.W.T. in 1881; Alberta’s role in the 19th century Social Reform Movement, and the part Grand Valley, Ontario settlers played in pioneering communities in central Alberta.
Harris Zsovan’s articles have appeared in more than a dozen publications including Alberta Views, Alberta Venture, Award, The National Post, Western Standard, Microsoft Home Magazine, The Anglican Planet, Christian Week, Maranatha News and Faith Today.
In April 2008, Harris Zsovan contributed ”Jessie’s Generation: Canada’s Firebrands of Mercy and Justice” to Hot Apple Cider: Stories to Warm the Soul & Stir the Heart, an anthology of Canadian writers. The chapter tells one strand of the story Harris Zsovan hopes to capture fully in future books and articles: the social reform movement to Canada’s poor that began well before confederation.
-30-
For Information about Jane Harris Zsovan’s writing contact:
Jane Harris Zsovan
Email: janehz@telus.net
Blog: www.visionofcanada.blogspot.com
For Information about Saturdays at the Fort contact:
Kim Driscoll,The Fort-Museum of the NWMP
Fort Macleod, Alberta T0L 0Z0
Phone: 403 553 4703 Toll Free: 1-866-273-6841
Website: http://www.nwmpmuseum.com/
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