This handsome woman is Queen Victoria. Because she was Queen when England birthed Canada, we celebrate her birthday (May 24, 1819) by taking the 3rd Monday each May off. This is a good thing, but like most things in Canada, it is not without flaws.
Let me count the issues:
1) The weekend is often referred to as ‘May 2-4’, because not only was that the Queen’s birthday but it is also the quantity that a case of beer comes in. However, as this year’s calendar proves, it can fall on May 18.
2) This is related to 1, but it is a week too early. I don’t even care about the technicalities. It’s Canada and the later into May you get, the better your chance is of good weather. I can think of numerous May long weekends where the weather has been shit. According to the weather prognosticators, that is to be the case this weekend as well. Furthermore, since we inexplicably don’t have a long weekend in June (even though we only have 5 months worth having a long weekend in, June being the best), a holiday Monday on the 3rd weekend in May ensures that you will not have another vacation for 6 weeks during the prime summer months.
3) It’s incompatible with the US. You can say that is unpatriotic of me, but their May holiday weekend is the 4th weekend of May (Memorial Day weekend). Seeing as how they are Canada’s largest trading partner, it makes sense to have coinciding vacation days where possible. Plus, tons of blockbuster movies come out on memorial day weekend and we in Canada are stuck with Angels & Demons.
In closing, the federal government needs to: move the long weekend a week later and give us a long weekend in June.
Enjoy the weekend (which will be tough if it is cold and/or rainy).
2 years ago