Today is the official holiday in Canada to finally welcome the summer, or at least that is how it has evolved over the past 122 years. However, that is not the official purpose of the long weekend but it is a nice one that we can all agree is needed, especially after this particular winter which was so dark and cold.
Did you know that many of us (not all) are off today because May 24th was the birthday of Queen Victoria? After her death in January 1901, the federal government of the day lead by Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier, declared May 24 (or May 25 if the 24th was on a Sunday) as a holiday in Canada to celebrate the life of the Queen who helped to create the dominion of Canada. By 1952 the day became the “official birthday” of whomever the King or Queen is at any given time. Also that year, to make it a long weekend the Canadian government adjusted the date to be the Monday in May that comes before the 25th. Since that time this first long weekend of the summer that became known as the May 2-4, can actually fall anytime from about the 18th to the 24th of May.
Around the time of the first Victoria Day in 1901, the Township of Etobicoke was mostly an area of agriculture that had some villages scattered around. After opening the first official Township Hall in the Village of Islington in 1888, more municipal offices were added over time and by the early 1900’s this village was the centre of the area. Next time you are out walking or fighting traffic take a minute to look around and imagine the farmland that once upon a time covered Etobicoke during our early May 2-4 weekends!
Another Big Birthday
Happy 52nd to Ontario Place this weekend and today it gets a party to celebrate! While its 50th got missed a couple of years ago while the world was still shut down in many places, the organizers who are trying to save the park from being mostly privatized are throwing the party!
Today from 1pm to 4pm head down to Trillium Park which is on the east side to hear more about the great things this area has for the public as well as enjoying great music and food. While this is starting now you have all afternoon to enjoy if you are looking for something to do as this afternoon is bright and warming up by the hour!
Have a wonderful end to this long weekend whatever you are up to and lets all be happy that it looks like summer is finally upon us!
Thanks Jennifer! Thought you and your readers might be interested in this Victoria Day tidbit from
The Etobicoke Historical Society:
“ The Queensway was originally called Queen Street as it was considered an extension of Queen west of Roncesvalles Avenue into Etobicoke. Queen Street had been named in honour of Queen Victoria in 1844. However, the road was discontinuous between today’s Parkside Drive and Ellis Avenue because of a large swampy area at Grenadier Pond’s south end. In 1941, Etobicoke Township changed the name of Queen Street within Etobicoke to The Queensway to eliminate confusion caused by there being two discontinuous sections of road with the same name. The Queensway was chosen as it retained part of the old name while echoing the street called The Kingsway at Bloor Street West. In 1954, the swamp was filled in south of Grenadier Pond and the road put through, but the section from the Humber River west to Roncesvalles Avenue remained Queen Street until ca. 1980 when it was renamed as The Queensway.”
Source: https://www.etobicokehistorical.com/east-west-roads.html