For many Canadians this is a long weekend. While British Columbians celebrated their very first Family Day, which is not a federally-established event, last week, residents of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario mark the occasion on the third Monday in February. Folks in Manitoba celebrate Louis Riel Day at the same time and Prince Edward Islanders will be recognizing Islander Day.
The only provinces not observing this holiday in February are Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
I recall when there were hints of a February holiday for Ontario. Some suggested it was a political strategy with voters so grateful they’d remember the party that gave them another day off at the polls. There were mentions that we just simply needed something to look forward to in the middle of winter, a possibility that makes complete sense to me. But the official stand is that it has quite simply been set aside to observe exactly what it implies — the importance of family, regardless of what that word means.
The traditional understanding of the word family, mother, father, two children, is only one representation today. Families in the 21st century are not all the same. According to Family Service Toronto, the definition of family today is “two or more people, whether living together or apart, related by blood, marriage, adoption or commitment to care for one another.”
“All families are equal and should be celebrated,” their website states. “Many families cross boundaries of race, culture, ethnicity, sexuality, (dis)ability and language to become families. In Ontario, we have the freedom to create families across all boundaries.”
Family is indeed something to be celebrated. I know I will be doing just that with mine this Monday. In the meantime I offer these photo collections:
Family Day Toronto Photo Gallery
Acclaim Images Stock Photography Family Collection
Hypervocal Family Pictures ‘Then and Now’
theAtlantic Photographs of Family Held Together by Love, Skype
