Canada Will Mark Queen’s Funeral with a Federal Holiday

Soha Ahmadi
September 13, 2022

Canada’s Federal Holiday

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has formally announced that Monday, September 19, 2022 will be a federal holiday to mourn Queen Elizabeth II’s death and burial. However, it will not be an annual holiday. On federal holidays, only federally regulated workers get the day off for the Queen’s mourning.

Provincial governments are currently working with Prime Minister Trudeau in making their own decisions regarding making this a provincial holiday. As of Sep 13, 4:45 pm, it will not be a statutory holiday in Quebec and Ontario. The provinces of Nova Scotia, N.B., Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and Labrador will join the federal government in declaring Sep 19 a holiday. Additionally, the premier of British Columbia has declared Monday, Sept. 19, as a holiday this year in recognition of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

The History of Queen Elizabeth

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, or Queen Elizabeth II, was born on April 21, 1926 and was the eldest child of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I. Along with her younger sister, she was educated at home and had learned to speak French fluently. She had married her distant cousin Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten on November 20, 1947 in Westminster Abbey. They initially met when she was only 13 years old and, after keeping in touch over many years, the two fell in love. The two had quite contrasting personalities. Elizabeth was quiet and reserved. Philip, on the other hand, was boisterous and outspoken. Her father was initially hesitant about the match. Although Mountbatten had ties to Danish and Greek royal families, he did not possess great wealth, and some considered him to have a rough personality. The pair also had four children together:

Prince Charles, the Heir to the Throne. He served as the Prince of Wales until his mother’s death.
Princess Anne, who serves as The Princess Royal.
Prince Andrew, serving as The Duke of York.
Prince Edward, who is The Earl of Wessex.

King Philip died at age 99 on April 9, 2021.

Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation and Platinum Jubilee

In the summer of 1951, King George VI’s health declined rapidly and, after his death on February 2, 1953, Queen Elizabeth began dedicating her life to serving as the Queen of England at age 25. On June 2, 1953, Queen Elizabeth II was formally crowned and, for the first time in history, the coronation ceremony was televised for citizens around the world to witness this event. In 1953, the Royal Style and Titles Act has formally conferred Queen Elizabeth II to have the title of Queen of Canada.

In June 2022, the Queen and the entire nation celebrated the Queen’s 70^th anniversary on the throne. This four-day national holiday, formally known as the “Platinum Jubilee”, to honour this historical milestone, as she was the longest-serving monarch in the UK. Britain celebrated using a series of initiatives, including street arts, theatre, music, and carnival, though the Queen’s health had limited her involvement in these events. Canada has also had a series of celebrations to help celebrate the Queen’s reign.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Death

Queen Elizabeth II had died peacefully on September 8, 2022 at age 96 in Scotland, where has spent much of her summer at her estate. Her son, Prince Charles, has automatically become king and will be therefore known as King Charles III. Her funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey on Monday September 19 at 11:00am local time.

Sources

Life

Death and Federal Holiday

Disclaimer:
The information has been gathered as accurately as possible at the time of writing, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please check the official website and digital channels.