You know, sorry USofAians, but President’s Day is pretty generic. And Family Day is namby-pamby. (Sorry, Alta and Ont, but it is — I mean, could you have been any more pandering?)
But Louis Riel Day has something you can sink your teeth into. Here’s a complex person with a rich and interesting past. Here’s a reason for Manitoban kids to get interested in history — at least a little.
Exile, fugitive, hanged for treason — and elected to Parliament three times, though I don’t think he ever got to go there. That’s Louis Riel.
Last year, I linked to some Louis Riel T-shirts that you could buy, if you’re interested in marking the occasion in sartorial style. But this year I’m going to take a cue from the student newspaper at the local university. In The Quill‘s list of the best ways to spend Louis Riel Day, one of the suggestions was “Occupy a case of Fort Garry.”
Now that’s a holiday tradition I can get behind.
Grant Hamilton
6 Responses to “Happy Louis Riel Day”
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I highly recommend Chester Brown’s graphic novel, a really well crafted biography of Louis Riel.
I loved it and felt like I knew a lot about the man after finishing it.
Agreed — I have a copy and enjoyed it thoroughly. I should blog about it next Louis Riel Day!
I myself opted for the Fort Garry this weekend, but I could clean up my act, Grant will you lend me the book?
I’ll trade you for some Fort Garry
Deal
I have a copy too, yanno…