Some call it simply Civic Holiday, and in parts of this country I understand that is the official name. Here in Toronto, we call it Simcoe Day but I’m not sure just what Lord Simcoe did exactly to rate his own long weekend. If Wikipedia is to be believed,it is Mountie Day in North York, Colonel By Day in Ottawa, George Hamilton Day in Hamilton, Joseph Brant Day in Burlington, Founders’ Day in Brantford, McLaughlin Day in Oshawa, Alexander Mackenzie Day in Sarnia, James Cockburn Day in Cobourg, Peter Robinson Day in Peterborough and John Galt Day in Guelph. I learn something every day.
In Toronto, this weekend is also the time we celebrate the festival formerly known as Caribana. I don’t begin to understand what the dispute over the name is all about except that there has been some heavy duty bickering over which group organizes the festival. In spite of that, Toronto is reputed to have one of the best Carribean festivals anywhere. I’ve gone down to Lakeshore for the parade a few times, and it’s always been a lot of fun, with loads of party music and plenty of good food for sale along the way. I hope the weather holds and everybody has a great time.
I’m sure our Mayor and City Councillors will be resting up this weekend after a highly unusual all-day-and-all-night session of public feedback related to Toronto’s financial state and the recent KPMG report. Last night, we watched some of the proceedings on television. It was strange and yet strangely compelling too, as each speaker had three minutes to make a statement. In some cases, councillors asked the speakers questions. Now, what will Council and the Mayor do with all the deputations?
Is this a long weekend where you live?
27th Street 
Whatever you call it, have a great one. We only have the usual two-day weekend.
Wow, who knew it had so many names?! Yep, Heritage Day here in AB. Edmonton celebrates with Heritage Days where they set up pavilions in one of the parks representing different countries – you can buy clothing, trinkets and foods from around the world. Me, I’ll be (1) watching football, (2) reading, (3) knitting, and (4) possibly going to a movie. Just about anything that doesn’t involve interacting with huge groups of sweaty strangers.
What is it in my genetic code that is making me think I want to go see Cowboys and Aliens this weekend. My conscious brain says, “Hey bud, you know it’s gonna be a stinker”, but something buried back in there somewhere is saying, “You know you want to see it….”
I had no idea that the long weekend went by so many different names in Ontario! I had only ever heard it referred to as Simcoe Day when I lived there.
It’s called Heritage Day here in Alberta, which is terribly generic, but hey, it’s a long weekend.