SIMCOE DAY OR A CIVIC HOLIDAY IN ONTARIO

The first Monday in August is a civic holiday in Ontario. Other provinces like Prince Edward Island and British Columbia have a day off but call it by a different name. In Ontario it is called Simcoe Day after the First Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada- 1791-796- John Graves Simcoe or often referred in history as Lord Simcoe. He created Yonge Street, established courts, trial by jury, English common law, freehold land ownership and abolished slavery. His wife- Lady Simcoe- Elizabeth Posthuma Gwillan- wrote a diary which is a very significant book chronically the early years-1800s- in Ontario. Apparently she was quite an artist so her drawings depict visually early impressions in the province. There is a statue of Lord Simcoe at Queen's Park in Toronto outside the provincial legisiative buildings. Lady Simcoe has a statue in a little parkett in front of the Bradford Post Office. Bradford is straight up Yonge Street about an hour from downtown Toronto. No matter what they call the Civic holiday in other provinces or here, I am just glad to enjoy another summer long weekend which gives time for another day trip or two or just to relax, reading a book! Are you enjoying the long weekend? Thank you Lord Simcoe!