February 18th was a holiday for many people in North America, but depending on where you lived it was called something different and honored someone different. In at least one location, this difference is different EVERY year! Here are some of the differences…
In the United States, it was PRESIDENTS’ DAY.
Washington’s birthday sign, c. 1890–1899
And in Canada, it depended on the province you lived in…
Beaver sculpture, over the entrance to Centre Block of Canadian Parliament,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- In British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and New Brunswick, it was FAMILY DAY.
- In Prince Edward Island, it was ISLANDER DAY.
- In Manitoba, it was LOUIS RIEL DAY.
- In Nova Scotia, it was HERITAGE DAY with an honouree who changes every year…
In 2015, it was Viola Desmond Day.
In 2016, it was Joseph Howe Day.
In 2017, it was Mi’kmaq Heritage Day.
In 2018, it was Mona Louise Parsons Day.
And this year it was, Maud Lewis Day – which if you’ve watched the movie about her called Maudie (starring Sally Hawkins as Maud Dowley Lewis and Ethan Hawk as her husband, Everett Lewis), you’ll probably be saying (like I was saying): Hurrah, for Maud! Love her art and her plucky spirit.
CLICK HERE (or the long link below) to see a picture of Maud and to read the rest of this blog (which features Louis Riel Day and the Métis inspiration for my stories-in-progress)at the Get Lost in a Story group blog (where this blog was originally posted)…
http://getlostinastory.blogspot.com/2019/02/louis-riel-day-maud-lewis-day-and-more.html
