In the 1980s the Whistler Question began posing a question to three to six people and publishing their responses under “Whistler’s Answers” (not to be confused with the Whistler Answer). Each week, we’ll be sharing one question and the answers given back in 1984. Please note, all names/answers/occupations/neighbourhoods represent information given to the Question at the time of publishing and do not necessarily reflect the person today.
Some context for this week’s question: Canada Day (under various names) has been observed by many across the country since 1868. Discussions about the day have changed over time, especially over the past few years as more people question colonial narratives and what it means to celebrate colonization. The following opinions are from 1984 and do not reflect current conversations about the observance of Canada Day.
Question: Is the observance of the national holiday (Canada Day, July 1) important to you?
Barry Gordon – High Tech Hippie – Vancouver
It does matter. It makes me appreciate what we’ve got: a lot of freedom and a lot of open country. We have it better off than more than 90 per cent of the world. I hadn’t really thought bout this today, but I thought about all the things we have. Not everybody has the same resources.
Joan Gianelli – Mother Burnaby
It’s important that we observe when this country came about and why it came about. It’s important to remember the past.
Jim Corlett – Notary Public – Vancouver
It brings people together, but we need more national spirit and international spirit. There’s cattle and a thousand hills in this country – I think we have to appreciate that we have everything although we haven’t got the mentality to share it with the world.