Canada's symbols, honours and holidays

Ana is twenty-seven. She came from Brazil, and she works at a bakery in London, Ontario. On Canada Day, she goes to a picnic in the park with friends from work. Everyone stands to sing O Canada. A coworker smiles and asks, do you know the words? Ana knows the tune, but not the words. I'm Vinnie. Remember, this is a free, independent course. It is not a government course.

So here is the question. What are Canada's main symbols, honours and holidays? And what are the words to the anthem?

The official study guide, Discover Canada, has a chapter called Canadian Symbols. Let's start with Ana's song. O Canada was proclaimed the national anthem in nineteen eighty. It was first sung in Québec City in eighteen eighty. The English words begin like this. O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all of us command.

Be careful here. The guide still prints an older line, in all thy sons command. The official words changed in twenty eighteen, to in all of us command. Learn today's line. There is also an official French version, with its own words. And the royal anthem is God Save the King.

Now the flag. Canada's maple leaf flag was first raised in nineteen sixty-five. Its red, white and red pattern comes from the flag of the Royal Military College in Kingston. The maple leaf is Canada's best-known symbol. The fleur-de-lys, a lily flower, was a symbol of New France.

The Crown, meaning the King or Queen, is a symbol of the state. The guide's symbols chapter still talks about the Queen, because it was written before today's King. Canada's coat of arms has a motto in Latin that means from sea to sea. And the Peace Tower, on the Parliament Buildings, was finished in nineteen twenty-seven, in memory of the First World War.

Hockey is Canada's national winter sport. Lacrosse is the official summer sport. The beaver is on the five-cent coin. Canada also has its own honours. The Order of Canada began in nineteen sixty-seven. The highest honour available to Canadians is the Victoria Cross. Ninety-six Canadians have received it since eighteen fifty-four.

Now the holidays. Canada Day is July first. Victoria Day is the Monday before May twenty-fifth. Labour Day is the first Monday of September. Thanksgiving is the second Monday of October. Remembrance Day is November eleventh, the day the First World War ended in nineteen eighteen. And September thirtieth is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is a federal public holiday, but it is not in the guide's list.

Let's make it stick. Winter ice, summer sun. Hockey for winter, lacrosse for summer. For the anthem, picture everyone at Ana's picnic. The line is for all of us, so it says all of us. And for the top honour, V for Victoria, V for very highest.

Let's change one fact. What if July first falls on a Sunday? Then the Canada Day holiday is on Monday, July second.

The mistake people make is thinking every date in the guide's list is a day off. January eleventh is Sir John A. Macdonald Day. It is a day to remember him, not a day off work. The guide also lists April ninth, Vimy Day, and November twentieth, Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day.

Here's the one thing to remember. Today's anthem line is in all of us command. The Victoria Cross is the highest honour. Hockey is for winter, and lacrosse is for summer.

This week, say the first three lines of O Canada out loud, with in all of us command. Then say the holidays in order, from January to December. Next time, Canada's economy and its five regions.