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OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, June 26, 2009 · 22 Happy Canada Day Happy Birthday Canada! This Canada Day be sure to celebrate our countries birthday with the knowledge of its glorious history and customs. Canada Day is a time for celebration. It is the one day a year when have in common- a deep pride in our nation. This year, Canadians from coast to coast gather to rejoice in what we all delight in the achievements of your fellow Canadians past and present, and honor the heritage that has been passed down for generations. A Deep History Canada is a young country with a rich and vibrant history. The first settlers of this great land were, of course, the aboriginal peoples. In 1497, John Cabot, who reached Nova Scotia and claimed the land in the name of England, joined them. The great expanse remained relatively unexplored until 1534 when the French Jacques Cartier began setting up colonies in what France called New France. Under the guidance of Samuel de Champlain, the first French settlement was founded in 1605 at Port Royal, and in 1608 the heart of New France, which later became Quebec City, was established. To no ones surprise, France soon claimed Canada as its own. England maintained its dominating presence in Canada, and battles with the French were commonplace throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. One battle led to England gaining control over the Maritimes. This prompted the Great Upheaval of 1755, the deportation of about 12,000 French settlers, known as Acadians. The long and tedious Seven Years War (1756-1763) allowed England to further its conquest. By the end of the war, British General James Wolfe won his famous victory over French General Louis Montcalm outside of Quebec on September 13, 1759. And in 1763, the Treaty of Paris gave England the full control that it was looking for. Nearly 100 years later in 1867, Queen Victoria approved a plan that allowed Canada to become an independent nation with its own government. The British North America Act of 1867 confederated the Province of Canada (including Upper and Lower Canada, now Ontario and Quebec), Nova Scotia and New Brunswick as the Dominion of Canada. In 1870 Manitoba and the Northwest Territories joined confederation, followed by British Columbia in 1871, Prince Edward Island in 1873, the Yukon in 1898, Saskatchewan and Alberta in 1905, Newfoundland in 1949, and Nunavut in 1999. By 1885 the Canadian Pacific Railway linked Canada from coast to coast- a symbol of unity. The years to come saw many great Prime Ministers, including Sir John Alexander MacDonald, William Lyon Mackenzie King, Lester Bowles Pearson, and Pierre Elliot Trudeau, each of whom made their own contributions to Canadian life and culture. A Flag is Born The red and white maple leaf flag is one of Canada's most recognized symbols. The Canadian flag is acknowledged around the globe as an emblem of hope and peace. However, Canada did not have an official flag until the 1960's. In 1964 Lester B. Pearson appointed a 15-member, all-party committee, which was given the duty of designing a distinctive Canadian flag. Several ideas were proposed but not all were deemed acceptable. The choice was between three designs; a red Ensign with the fleur-de-lis and the Continued on Page 23 $ 18 $ 99 69 49 1/2 PRICE $ 99 9 $ 14 99 $ Save 50 $ Save 60% 15 99 299 Save 25% 99 $ 99 9 $ Save $25 59 99 Sale prices in effect Saturday, June 20 to Friday June 26, 2009. While quantities last. DUNDAS & TRAFALGAR ROAD 400 Dundas St. East · 257-TIRE STORE HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8:00am-9:00pm Sat. 8:00am-7:00pm Sun. 9:00am-6:00pm OAKTOWN SHOPPING PLAZA 550 Kerr Street · 844-0202 STORE HOURS: Mon. -Fri. 8:00am-9:00pm Sat. 8:00am-7:00pm Sun. 9:00am-6:00pm