ONTREAL — It’s a day that’s celebrated across Canada, but in Quebec, Victoria Day – or the Journée des Patriotes – has a very different meaning.
“In 2002, the Quebec government wants to celebrate, highlight our democratic fights,” said Maxime Laporte, president of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste (SSJB).
Canada is the only country to commemorate Queen Victoria with an official statutory day.
Patriot’s Day signifies the fight between Lower Canada – Quebec – against British power in 1837.
“Freedom, democracy, we have to fight for it,” said Laporte.
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Draped in the red, white and green flag of the patriots, a few hundred people marched in the demonstration on Sunday.
“People who don’t know their own story – it’s like someone who has amnesia,” said Mario Beaulieu, leader of the Bloc Québécois.
“To know our history is to better understand our present as we head to the future.”
Many of the revellers expressed their support for an independent French Quebec.
This is despite the fact that organizers insist Patriot’s Day isn’t just for Quebec sovereigntists – it’s for everyone in the province.
“Our values are universal,” insisted Laporte.
Nevertheless, some Quebecers say they’ve had enough of the political conflict between the French and the English.
“We should start to get along better, not to have these personal conflicts,” said Steven Gold, a marcher.
“The government should be open to the citizens, to be open to good times.”
There was a lot of talk of the new PQ leadership and of the upcoming federal elections.
READ MORE: Peladeau becomes new Parti Quebecois leader
The Bloc Québécois hopes to regain its hold over the province to promote Quebec’s unique identity.
rachel.lau@globalnews.ca
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