National Patriotes Day
Encyclopedia
National Patriots' Day is a statutory holiday
observed annually in the Canadian
province of Quebec
, on the Monday preceding 25 May. The holiday was instated by the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
-in-Council
in 2003, according to the then Premier of Quebec
Bernard Landry
: "to underline the importance of the struggle of the patriots of 1837–1838
for the national recognition of our people, for its political liberty and to obtain a democratic system of government." Before 2003, the Monday preceding 25 May of each year was the Fête de Dollard
, a commemoration initiated in the 1920s to coincide with Victoria Day
, which is a federal holiday occurring annually on the same date.
Beginning in 1962, year of the 125th anniversary of the 1837 rebellions, the popular gathering in Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu to mark the uprisings became an annual event. 20 years later, on 6 October 1982, the Journée des patriotes was declared by the Quebec Governor
-in-Council
as occurring each year on the Sunday closest to 23 November. The desire to see the Journée des patriotes gain a more official character incited some citizens to campaign for the celebration to be declared a statutory holiday, either as a new holiday or in replacement of an existing one. In 1987, the Club Souverain de l'Estrie started the movement "For a paid holiday in memory of the Patriots," while other civil organizations, such as the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
of Montreal and the Comité du 15 février 1839 (founded by Pierre Falardeau
in 1997 to help the financing of the movie 15 février 1839), later joined in the campaign.
During the National Congress of the Parti Québécois
(May 5—7 2000), party members adopted a resolution inviting the government to "decree a paid holiday in memory of the Patriots of 1837–1838 in replacement of an existing holiday."
On 21 November 2001, Bernard Landry
proposed a motion in the National Assembly of Quebec
inviting that body to "underline the importance of the struggle of the Patriots of 1837–1838." An Order in Council was then issued on 20 November the following year, establishing the Journée des patriotes– thenceforth known as National Patriots' Day– as the Monday preceding 25 May, thereby replacing the Fête de Dollard; the moving from November to May was motivated by the will to highlight the starting point of the numerous public meetings organized by citizens throughout Lower Canada from May to November 1837 in reaction to the passing of British Home Secretary Lord John Russell
's Ten Resolutions by the House of Commons
The first official celebration of National Patriots' Day took place on 19 May 2003.
In French
Statutory holiday
Statutory holiday may refer to:*Public holidays in Canada*Public holidays in New Zealand*Public holidays in Australia*Public holidays in the United Kingdom...
observed annually in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, on the Monday preceding 25 May. The holiday was instated by the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
The Lieutenant Governor of Quebec : Lieutenant-gouverneur du Québec, or : Lieutenant-gouverneure du Québec) is the viceregal representative in Quebec of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions...
-in-Council
Queen-in-Council
The Queen-in-Council is, in each of the Commonwealth realms, the technical term of constitutional law that refers to the exercise of executive authority, denoting the monarch acting by and with the advice and consent of his or her privy council or executive council The Queen-in-Council (during...
in 2003, according to the then Premier of Quebec
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
Bernard Landry
Bernard Landry
Bernard Landry, is a Quebec lawyer, teacher, politician, who served as the 28th Premier of Quebec , leader of the Opposition and leader of the Parti Québécois .-Personal:...
: "to underline the importance of the struggle of the patriots of 1837–1838
Lower Canada Rebellion
The Lower Canada Rebellion , commonly referred to as the Patriots' War by Quebeckers, is the name given to the armed conflict between the rebels of Lower Canada and the British colonial power of that province...
for the national recognition of our people, for its political liberty and to obtain a democratic system of government." Before 2003, the Monday preceding 25 May of each year was the Fête de Dollard
Adam Dollard des Ormeaux
Adam Dollard des Ormeaux, , also known as Adam Daulaut, Daulac, or simply as Dollard des Ormeaux, was a colonist and soldier of New France...
, a commemoration initiated in the 1920s to coincide with Victoria Day
Victoria Day
Victoria Day is a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last Monday before May 25, in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday. The date is also, simultaneously, that on which the current reigning Canadian sovereign's official birthday is recognized...
, which is a federal holiday occurring annually on the same date.
History
The citizens of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu organized, in 1937, the Fêtes du centenaire de 1837, in order to commemorate the "struggles of the Patriotes of 1837–1838 for liberty, the national recognition of our people and for democracy." The festivities took place at various sites across the colony, and some residents produced souvenirs of the event.Beginning in 1962, year of the 125th anniversary of the 1837 rebellions, the popular gathering in Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu to mark the uprisings became an annual event. 20 years later, on 6 October 1982, the Journée des patriotes was declared by the Quebec Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
The Lieutenant Governor of Quebec : Lieutenant-gouverneur du Québec, or : Lieutenant-gouverneure du Québec) is the viceregal representative in Quebec of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions...
-in-Council
Queen-in-Council
The Queen-in-Council is, in each of the Commonwealth realms, the technical term of constitutional law that refers to the exercise of executive authority, denoting the monarch acting by and with the advice and consent of his or her privy council or executive council The Queen-in-Council (during...
as occurring each year on the Sunday closest to 23 November. The desire to see the Journée des patriotes gain a more official character incited some citizens to campaign for the celebration to be declared a statutory holiday, either as a new holiday or in replacement of an existing one. In 1987, the Club Souverain de l'Estrie started the movement "For a paid holiday in memory of the Patriots," while other civil organizations, such as the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society is an institution in Quebec dedicated to the protection of Quebec francophone interests and to the promotion of Quebec Sovereignism. Its current President is Mario Beaulieu....
of Montreal and the Comité du 15 février 1839 (founded by Pierre Falardeau
Pierre Falardeau
Pierre Falardeau was a Quebec film and documentary director, pamphleteer and noted activist for Quebec independence.-Profile:Falardeau studied anthropology at university and he taught that subject for a brief period...
in 1997 to help the financing of the movie 15 février 1839), later joined in the campaign.
During the National Congress of the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
(May 5—7 2000), party members adopted a resolution inviting the government to "decree a paid holiday in memory of the Patriots of 1837–1838 in replacement of an existing holiday."
On 21 November 2001, Bernard Landry
Bernard Landry
Bernard Landry, is a Quebec lawyer, teacher, politician, who served as the 28th Premier of Quebec , leader of the Opposition and leader of the Parti Québécois .-Personal:...
proposed a motion in the National Assembly of Quebec
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
inviting that body to "underline the importance of the struggle of the Patriots of 1837–1838." An Order in Council was then issued on 20 November the following year, establishing the Journée des patriotes– thenceforth known as National Patriots' Day– as the Monday preceding 25 May, thereby replacing the Fête de Dollard; the moving from November to May was motivated by the will to highlight the starting point of the numerous public meetings organized by citizens throughout Lower Canada from May to November 1837 in reaction to the passing of British Home Secretary Lord John Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, KG, GCMG, PC , known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was an English Whig and Liberal politician who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century....
's Ten Resolutions by the House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
The first official celebration of National Patriots' Day took place on 19 May 2003.
See also
- History of QuebecHistory of QuebecQuebec has played a special role in Canadian history; it is the site where French settlers founded the colony of Canada in the 17th and 18th centuries.-Paleoindian Era :...
- Patriote movementPatriote movementThe Patriote movement was a political movement that existed in Lower Canada from the turning of the 19th century to the Patriote Rebellion of 1837 and 1838 and the subsequent Act of Union of 1840. It was politically embodied by the Parti patriote at the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada...
- Quebec nationalismQuebec nationalismQuebec nationalism is a nationalist movement in the Canadian province of Quebec .-1534–1774:Canada was first a french colony. Jacques Cartier claimed it for France in 1534, and permanent French settlement began in 1608. It was part of New France, which constituted all French colonies in North America...
- Quebec independence movement
- Victoria Day in CanadaVictoria DayVictoria Day is a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last Monday before May 25, in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday. The date is also, simultaneously, that on which the current reigning Canadian sovereign's official birthday is recognized...
External links
In English- "An Act respecting labour standards - article 60", in CanLII, updated on May 1, 2008, retrieved May 31, 2008
- "Highlights of Major Developments in Labour Legislation (2002-2003)", in the site of Human Resources and Social Development Canada, modified September 22, 2004, retrieved May 31, 2008
In French
- Official Website of the Journée nationale des patriotes
- "La Journée nationale des Patriotes", in the site of the Maison nationale des Patriotes, updated on February 20, 2008
- "Journée nationale des Patriotes", press dossier in Vigile.net, 2000–2005
- Serge Denis. "Les patriotes de 1837 pourraient déloger Dollar des Ormeaux", in La TribuneLa TribuneLa Tribune is a French financial newspaper that was founded in 1985. The paper is in tabloid format and has a circulation of around 78,000.- External links :**...
, November 19, 2001 - Gilles Laporte. "La fête des Patriotes : le temps d'agir", in Les Patriotes de 1837@1838, November 10, 2001