British Canadian newspaper - June Issue

The June issue of the immensely popular "British Canadian" free newspaper has arrived at Blighty's. Pick up a copy during your next visit.

The cover story this month carries the title: "We are Not Amused! Britain's Empire Comes Under Fire at Parade". The City of Nanaimo holds an annual "Empire Days Parade to celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday. Protestors have suggested the word "empire" is no longer appropriate because of Canada's ethnic diversity.

What a pity that some people make a conscious decision to move to Canada to enjoy the freedoms, rights and privileges bestowed on this country as a living legacy from its principal founding nation, yet wish to destroy the cultural heritage that brought them these benefits.

No one can believe that Canada remains subjugated by imperialist empire. In fact, it never was. First Nations people may have a prior claim to some of the territory in which the nation of Canada was born, but the British pioneered this land. British settlers gave Canada its legal system, built its towns, roads and railways, risked their lives to explore the Northwest Passage and invested in the trading companies that brought early prosperity to this nation.

Canadians now enjoy more freedoms and prosperity than almost any other nation in the world. We share these privileges with people of other nations who wish to join us and share in our good fortune. However, we should not, for one moment, tolerate the ingratitude of those who seek to deny us the right to celebrate the heritage of those who made the sacrifices that brought prosperity to all Canadians .

Blighty's will continue to proudly sell "Empire Biscuits" and, as Shakespeare might have said: "a fie on all who would deny us".