Monarchist League of Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Monarchist League of Canada is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization formed in 1970 by John Aimers and Gary Toffoli. The League's objective is to support and promote awareness of Canada's constitutional monarchy (see Monarchy in Canada). The League claims to have 17,000 members in over 20 branches across Canada, many under the patronage of Lieutenant Governors. Members finance the League as the organization receives no public subsidies.
| “ | Serving as a precious link with our history as a Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy, the Monarchist League of Canada... constitutes an indispensable component in creating a distinctly Canadian expression of 'the Crown' and its place in our lives.[1] | ” |
Contents |
[edit] History
The 1960s and 1970s saw a growing mood of Canadian and Québécois nationalism and a resulting criticism from opponents of monarchy who perceived the institution as an archaic and foreign symbol of colonialism and the British Empire.
The Canadian government (first under Lester Pearson, and then Pierre Trudeau) responded by removing some symbols of the Monarchy in an effort to create a new national identity, though stopping short of completely removing references to the institution. (Additionally, under Jean Chrétien, Government of Canada web site references to the Queen were removed from any prominence and placed under Heritage Canada.[citation needed]) For instance, the Canadian Red Ensign, bearing the Royal Union flag, was replaced by the Maple Leaf flag (under Pearson), God Save the Queen was displaced by O Canada, the Queen's Printer for Canada assumed a less visible role, the Royal Mail was rebranded as Canada Post, among other controversial moves.
Supporters of the Monarchy, including John Aimers (then an eighteen year old Progressive Conservative activist who had come into the orbit of former Prime Minister of Canada and ardent monarchist John Diefenbaker), were alarmed by these changes and formed the Monarchist League as a lobby group in favour of the retention of the traditional symbols of monarchy and against what it described as "creeping republicanism" that would result in the eventual transformation of Canada from a kingdom into a republic. The League was heavily involved in opposition against constitutional amendment proposals in the 1970s that would have created the Governor General as Head of State above the Monarch.
Though failing to prevent erosion in some areas, the League did successfully campaign the Government of Canada to maintain a Canadian version of the Victoria Cross as Canada's highest military decoration, and to maintain the Queen's place in the Oath of Citizenship. The League also persuaded Canada Post to issue a definitive stamp bearing the image of the Queen as a mandatory item in all postal outlets (see Queen Elizabeth II definitive stamp (Canada)).
The League and the Canadian Royal Heritage Trust were the only organized groups on the Canadian scene dedicated to the question of whether or not Canada should remain a monarchy until 2002 when an opposing group, Citizens for a Canadian Republic, was formed. Other groups dedicated to the retention of the Canadian Monarchy include the Democratic Canadian Union and the Orange Order in Canada.
[edit] Today
Today the Monarchist League of Canada continues to promote awareness of both the larger body of the Crown as a shared link between the Commonwealth Realms, and the Crown in Right of Canada as an integral institution of the Canadian state, emphasizing in particular those aspects of the Monarchy which it identifies as distinctly Canadian. The League also advocates the retention of constitutional monarchy as the preferred model of governance for Canada, encouraging a role for the Crown as a national unifier, both politically and symbolically.
- Further information:Monarchist arguments
Often members and officers of the League are called upon to engage in debate on television and radio shows, or offer commentary on occasions such as royal visits, installations of Governors General, or the death of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.
Pushing the government to reverse the earlier decision of the Martin government to remove the Queen's name from Letters of Credence and Recall in favour of the Governor General's name alone, as well as continuing education initiatives, are currently the main goals of the League.
Canadian Monarchist News is a serial publication issued by the League to its members, and tri-annually the organization produces and distributes a definitive survey on the overall cost of the Canadian Crown. Regular branch-level newsletters complement issues of Canadian Monarchist News.
The League stages various national and regional social events throughout the year, many in the presence of such vice-regal patrons as James K. Bartleman and Gordon L. Barnhart, Lieutenant Governors of Ontario and Saskatchewan. An annual Accession Day Luncheon is held in Toronto each February to celebrate the accession of the Queen to the throne February 6th, 1952.
The League has welcomed Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, and Princess Anne, giving Canadian Royals opportunity to meet its volunteers and members. Individual branches also organize luncheons, banquets, receptions and lectures, where senators, members of parliament, members of legislative assemblies, academics and other prominent citizens participate as guest speakers.
[edit] Organization
[edit] National leadership
John Aimers was Dominion Chairman of the League since its inception in 1970 with the exception of a three-year period from 1972 to 1975 when he worked for the federal Progressive Conservative Party. During this period, John Gould was Dominion Chairman. Arthur Bousfield and Paul Benoit (a Conservative candidate in the 2006 federal election) have been long-time Dominion Vice-Chairmen of the League.
In February 2006, Aimers stepped aside from active League duties due to legal problems. Aimers indicated that he would not act as the League's spokesperson or be involved in the organization's day-to-day functioning until the problems were resolved, stating that "the cause of the Monarchy and the work of the Monarchist League of Canada is far more important than any one person."[2]
- Further information: John Aimers: Allegations of sexual abuse
The League was operated collectively in the interim through its Dominion Vice-Chairmen and Board of Directors, with Robert Finch serving as principal spokesman and Chief Operating Officer. At the League's Accession Luncheon in February, 2007, John Aimers announced that Finch would succeed him as Dominion Chairman that month.
Other individuals contribute to League's work at the national level:
- Gavin Guthrie, Dominion Vice-Chairman, Political Action
- Nathan Tidridge, Education Co-ordinator
[edit] Regional branches
Branches and Contact Groups throughout Canada serve as a rallying point for members and undertake a variety of activities in an effort to influence local opinion in favour of the Crown. Contact Groups exist in areas where there is not at present the necessary leadership or interest to form a Branch, but where a responsible member can speak on behalf of the League and serve as a contact point for others. Branches sometimes become Contact Groups and vice versa, according to the availability of suitable volunteers. Local volunteers can deliver and support the League's national education programmes by liaising with educators and classrooms in different communities.
[edit] Youth and students
In the summer of 2006, former Student Monarchists and Young Adult Monarchists groups merged to create the Young Monarchist Group (YMG), under the direction of co-chairs Eugene Berezovsky, Monica Cop, and Ted Williams. The new national network aims to help to foster the ideas and involvement of monarchists under the age of 30 for the continued success of the League and the Canadian Crown.
The YMG stages an annual national conference, where members discuss topics relevant to both the Crown and people of their age group, the latest of which was held in the national capital in 2006. Previous meetings were held in Toronto.
The League maintains two university branches, one at the University of Waterloo, and another at Wilfrid Laurier University. Young volunteers play a central part in the regional and national work of the League. Summer student internships have been sponsored in partnership with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in Toronto and the Office of the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia in Victoria.
[edit] Patrons
- His Honour the Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
- His Honour the Honourable Dr. Gordon L. Barnhart, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
[edit] Education programmes
As a supplement to provincial educational resources, the organization produced and distributed "Red Boxes" (modelled on the Queen's own boxes in which she receives diplomatic and state papers), containing information about the Crown and related activities. Production of these toolkits ceased in 2006 to make way for a renovated and digitized format.
[edit] Print resources
In July 2006, the League released a 36-page educational booklet entitled The Canadian Monarchy: Exploring the role of Canada's Crown in the day-to-day life of our country (ISBN 0-9781853-0-7). Authored by Nathan Tidridge, with contributions from Dr. Michael Jackson (The Monarchy in the Provinces), Dr. Christopher McCreery (The Canadian Honours System), and with design and layout by Gavin Guthrie, the booklet is distributed nationally; with a circulation of 10,000, the booklet is in use by nearly every Lieutenant-Governors' office, as well as Members of Parliament, Senators, and the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Divided into sections exploring various areas such as Authority in Canada, First Nations People and the Crown, Emergency Powers of the Crown and The Monarchy in the Provinces, the booklet was intended to be an accessible way for Canadians to understand the Monarchy's role in the present day. The publication meets the cirriculum expectations for Canadian Civics (government) as determined by Ministries of Education throughout the country.
Plans are in the works for a second edition of the booklet to be released in Spring of 2007.
A French version is expected to be released.
[edit] Online resources
December 30, 2006 saw the official launch, in the presence of Dr. Gordon L. Barnhart, Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan, of a new education section of the Monarchist League website, entitled Learning About the Canadian Crown. The website was developed in Waterdown, Ontario, but launched in Saskatoon, to highlight the League's national scope.
Maintained by the Education Co-ordinator, the site, along with downloadable .pdf resources, is intended to serve as a portal to resources about the Canadian Crown. Areas covered include:
- National and provincial resources
- The Crown and Canadian Sport
- The Crown and the Environment
- The Crown and the Canadian Forces
- Vimy Ridge and The Crown
- Constitutional Issues
- Teacher Resources
- Wikipedia Resources
- Academic Books on the Crown
A "Timeline of the Canadian Monarchy" was added in April 2007 detailing the evolution of the Canadian Crown.
[edit] Branches and contact groups
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia: Halifax, Annapolis Valley, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Northumberland, South West Nova
- New Brunswick: Saint John, Sussex/Kings County
- Quebec: Quebec City and District, Montreal
- Ontario: Ottawa, Belleville, Peterborough, Barrie-Simcoe, Toronto, Hamilton and District, Niagara Region, Guelph-Grand River, University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, Brant County, London, Windsor, North-West Ontario
- Manitoba: Winnipeg
- Saskatchewan: South Saskatchewan (Regina), North Saskatchewan (Saskatoon)
- Alberta: Calgary, Northern Alberta
- British Columbia: Vancouver, Victoria, Central Vancouver Island, Courtenay-Comox Valley
[edit] See also
- Monarchism
- Monarchism in Canada
- Monarchy in Canada
- Monarchist League - other Commonwealth Realm Leagues
- Canadian Republicanism
- Citizens for a Canadian Republic
- Australians for Constitutional Monarchy
- Australian Monarchist League
- Monarchist League of New Zealand
[edit] External links
- Monarchist League of Canada
- Monarchist League Education Website
- Chronology of the League's Activities
- League Educational Publications (Saskatchewan)
- Canadian Monarchist ONLINE
- Text of Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario James K. Bartleman's speech to the Monarchist League of Canada at the Accession Sunday Luncheon, Toronto (2006)
- Text of Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario James K. Bartleman's speech to the Monarchist League of Canada at the Accession Sunday Luncheon, Toronto (2003)
- Citizens for a Canadian Republic
