News shorts pre-Canada Day

My part-time Canadian coverage on NCPR almost disappeared this month as I was preoccupied with projects on the home front.

Here, then, are a few items of interest on the eve of a bigger-than-usual Canada Day.

The Queen of Canada, Elizabeth the second, is on her 22nd official visit to this nation. An increasing percentage of Canadians are ambivalent about living under a constitutional monarchy, but this queen enjoys widespread respect for her life of dedicated service.

The 9-day tour began in Halifax and continues in Ottawa this afternoon. The itinerary includes stops at the restored Canadian Museum of Nature (first dedicated to her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, 100 years ago), and the National Arts Centre, to unveil a statue honoring to the late Canadian jazz great Oscar Peterson.

Tomorrow, July 1st, is Canada’s 4th of July, a grand outpouring of parades, BBQs, picnics and fireworks. I think the hubby and I will try brave the always energetic crowds for Canada Day on Parliament Hill.  Hopefully we can catch a glimpse of the Queen, as we did on her last Ottawa tour in 2002. We’ll bike, as many streets will be closed.  We hope to take advantage of supervised bike parking (at Jacques-Cartier Park in Quebec, or in Major’s Hill Park, close to Parliament Hill.)

New features this year include a Canada Day phone application (in three languages) and green initiatives such as water being made available to refill your own container.

Happy Canada Day to all and a Happy 4th on Sunday!

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One more item, not connected to Canada Day.  As promised, Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien announced today his plans for a possible second term. Yes, he will run this fall.