By Staff
June 9th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
This Sunday in Spencer Smith Park, on the Sound of Music TD stage there will be a ceremony at which Canadians will have the opportunity to stand and re-affirm their Oath of Citizenship.
The event will be led by the Mayor and the event will be short. It takes place at 2:00 pm at the Sound of Music TD stage
The oath goes like this:
I affirm
That I will be faithful
And bear true allegiance
To her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second
Queen of Canada
Her Heirs and Successors
And that I will faithfully observe
The laws of Canada
And fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.
Americans hold their hand over their heart when they make statements like this – we Canadians just stand.
Most of us will be holding a piece of paper reading the words because most of us have probably never said them even once in our lives.
Canada is a Constitutional Monarchy, something most Canadians don’t realize either. We are quick to say that we live in one of the best countries in the world – and that would be true.
During the Quebec referendum tens of thousands of Canadians took part in moving a huge Canadian flag through the crowds. They want the country to remain united as one.
Keeping it that way for the future is going to be a challenge which we are certainly up to.
As I read the Oath I wondered what other people will think about that “bear true allegiance” phrase – and I wonder as well how many people will be out on Sunday in Spencer Smith Park following the Mayor as we re-affirm our duties as Canadian citizens.
There was free parking to be had. There were not a thousand people! Hard to say how many participated. As for me, I got all choked up, as I always do when it comes to things patriotic. Off to Ottawa for Canada Day. I should be a complete mess by then! Glorious day!
I would love to attend the service, but finding parking is too hard on a busy weekend. As for the American habit of putting the hand on the heart, better we stand straight and mean the words, rather than commit a theatrical, meaningless gesture. We are Canadians and don’t need to imitate our neighbors.