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End Simcoe Day

Is it time to give Simcoe Day another name? Ontario Day, maybe? What about Toronto Day?

Graves, like many of this province’s early ruler, was somewhat of a pompous, self-referential ass. Some would say I’m being too kind.

Most of us are happy that beer stores stay open on the day named in his honour.

But what are we really celebrating when we remember John Graves Simcoe, the first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada?

He’s credited with having a hand in the abolition of slavery. A good thing. (Although that’s not quite the whole story. The assembly he presided over only gave the descendants of slaves their freedom after the age of 25. But that’s another matter.)

Simcoe wasn’t exactly a democrat. He was a big believer in British aristocracy and the idea that those who occupied the lower rungs of society needed an upper class educated in the ways of the world to rules over them. So much for social mobility.

He fought against American revolutionaries seeking to extricate themselves from the yoke of British rule. The give-me-liberty-or-give-me-death crowd were no friends of Graves, a God-fearing Tory to the bone.

Under is administration, the biggest tracks of land in Upper Canada were reserved for Loyalist settlers who opposed to the American Revolution. Indeed, settlers had to swear allegiance to the Crown to get their piece of dirt.

Graves is also renowned for his military exploits. (Although, here too there’s a gray area. Graves bought his way to the top ranks, purchasing his captaincy before eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel). Still, Graves had a reputation as an outstanding military tactician, founding the Queens Rangers, perhaps the first stealth fighting unit in military warfare. The Rangers even wore green to camouflage them from their enemies.

Less appreciated was his foresight. The roads he commissioned during the early days of Upper Canada helped set the colony, then just a mass of wilderness mostly, on the path to early economic prosperity.

This alone warrants our respect. But perhaps a true democrat, one of the rebels who actually fought for Responsible Government, say William Lyon MacKenzie, would be a better fit.

Both men have statues in their honour at Queens Park, the present-day seat of our province’s government. MacKenzie’s is less prominently displayed.

The province’s current lieutenant governor, David Onley, wants to change that, promising MacKenzie a more prominent place on the Park lawn. Maybe MacKenzie can get a day named in his honour, too. Although, Simcoe might not approve.[rssbreak]

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