# Happy Victoria Day! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 18, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850 "2009-05-18T13:40:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/1 "2009-05-18T13:40:25Z")
To all Canadian Dopers - Happy Victoria Day! Anyone doing anything special? My wife might be headed to Canadian Tire to buy a vacuum cleaner (how much more Canadian can you get?) while the kids and I are debating whether to go to the zoo (will they let the kids back out?), the Museum (will they let Daddy back out?) or the Science Centre (will they let any of us back out, and will we care if they don’t?). No cottage or planting here! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/2 "2009-05-18T17:42:52Z")
Not a Canadian, but I saw this on my calendar today. Huzzah to our neighbors to the North! ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/3 "2009-05-18T19:29:58Z")
In observance of the holiday, [an appropriate and obvious music video clip from YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS8k71GUVL4&feature=related). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/4 "2009-05-18T19:34:25Z")
Canadian Tire is open? We went to African Lion Safari. Good times! ---
**Author:** ![apollonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@apollonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apollonia)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/5 "2009-05-18T21:55:19Z")
It’s too damn cold to have a picnic or go to the park like my friends and I had planned, so instead we’re staying inside where it’s warm and I’m getting schoolwork done. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/6 "2009-05-18T23:03:44Z")
Happy Victoria Day, from, er, Victoria! I think my “Victoria Day” was yesterday: beautiful, warm, sunny day, spent outside from the time I made my first pot of tea until it got too dark to read. I came inside for snacks, tea and to use the bathroom and change into shorts. It was like summer was suddenly here! I’m on the weed n’ read (a little gardening, a little reading, a little gardening…) program this summer, and made it through a re-read of The Stand (S. King). A perfect day. Today, Victoria Day itself, however, is overcast and not nearly so sweet. Gardening and tea and reading in the morning, until the rain started. I made us lunch, my husband’s on the Wii and I’m on the Dope. Now that it’s raining, I’m itching to be back out gardening, but I keep getting damp, so puttering around the house will have to suffice. Dragged the dog out for a walk in the rain, however, so I don’t feel like a total slug. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/7 "2009-05-18T23:47:55Z")
It was great here yesterday also, sunny and warm (25!) so we did some recycling and had a picnic in the park. Today it’s overcast and alternating rain and snow so we stayed in all day and I’m making a pot of chili now because it’s just the right weather for it. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/8 "2009-05-18T23:55:12Z")
It was beautiful if somewhat cool here in T.O. We had our regional gathering of Esperanto-speakers in Toronto this year, so there were people from all over, and I ended up taking a bunch of them on a walking tour of parts of Toronto, talking about interesting local buildings. They were very interested in the Distillery District and St Lawrence Market and the ROM and the Royal Conservatory of Music and seeing the contrast between the different architectural styles. It actually worked out quite well. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/9 "2009-05-19T00:22:16Z")
We got together with two other families and went up to the Glen Haffy conservation area (near Orangeville.) By this time of the evening, it’s a bit chilly to be outside, but the afternoon was glorious. My daughter was doing her best Julie Andrews impersonation, running up the hillside, getting to the top, spinning around with her arms out and singing “The Hills are Alive With the Sound of Music”. My son, meanwhile, was playing some sort of Calvin-ball that involved tightrope walking on a railing while kicking a soccer ball. What a fantastic day! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/10 "2009-05-19T00:41:05Z")
Is it a paid or unpaid holiday for most or all Canadians, or just government employees? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/11 "2009-05-19T00:47:31Z")
Happy Victoria Day, Northern Neighbours! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Capcha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Capcha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capcha)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/12 "2009-05-19T00:59:33Z")
I decided to take a walk, since the weather has been nice (for the first time in a while that i was off work), at the bike path /walk path that’s right next to the canal. A lot of people where out and about. Families, couples, singles and some with dogs. It was so pleasant that before i knew it, i was 45 minutes away from my street! I was wondering why my knees throbbed and my feet burned. :smack: I actually forgot that they had a parade downtown. To partially answer **Elendil’s Heir** :Where i live in Quebec, it is a paid holiday. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/13 "2009-05-19T01:38:26Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Is it a paid or unpaid holiday for most or all Canadians, or just government employees? Statutory holiday. With fireworks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/14 "2009-05-19T03:11:09Z")
What’s a “May-Long”\* without snow? Yes, snow here in Thunder Bayon Saturday. I worked most of the weekend so all the people opening their camps (cottages for all you Southern Ontarians)… well no sympathy on my part. Up here, its either a long slow spring and snow on Victoria Day, or its full of mosquitos? \*The vernacular, non-Royalist term for this weekend, short for “May Long weekend” … Hardly anyone calls it Victoria Day… ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/15 "2009-05-19T04:28:49Z")
I will immediately cease any whining about it turning rainy today in light of reports of snow. No one should have snow for Victoria Day. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/16 "2009-05-19T04:56:38Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Is it a paid or unpaid holiday for most or all Canadians, or just government employees? The company has to pay you for the holiday but they don’t have to give you the day off. HKF, working ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/17 "2009-05-19T06:05:05Z")
> [@HongKongFooey](#): > > The company has to pay you for the holiday but they don’t have to give you the day off. > > HKF, working ☹ Check local labor laws as always , but I believe they have to give you **A** day off, you would end up getting double bubble, 8 hours pay normal , 8 hours pay holiday and a day in lieu. Unless of course your under a contract that says otherwise. Declan ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/18 "2009-05-19T06:29:50Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > Check local labor laws as always , but I believe they have to give you **A** day off, you would end up getting double bubble, 8 hours pay normal , 8 hours pay holiday and a day in lieu. > > Unless of course your under a contract that says otherwise. > > Declan [Unfortunately](http://www.workrights.ca/content.php?sec=9) > [@](#): > > Do I have to work on a Statutory Holiday if my employer asks me to? > Yes, very few jurisdictions allow employees to refuse to work on a public holiday if their employer requests that they do so. One example of a law that gives some employees the right to refuse to work on a statutory holiday is the Newfoundland Labour Standards Act, which says, “an employer shall not require an employee to work under a contract of service on a public holiday”. Lucky Newfies 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/19 "2009-05-19T07:43:12Z")
Spent the day working on a paper for a presentation I’m slated to do next month; deadline was today. I promised Mrs Piper I would get it done today. Finished it 20 minutes ago and e-mailed it. Got a loverly out-of-office reply from the contact, which confirms my thought that they just pulled a deadline out of their hat without noticing it was a stat holiday… Oh well, at least it’s done and I can move on to other things tomorrow, like laundry… and Mrs Piper will be glad it’s off. (And, in case you don’t see me posting for the next little while - she’s warned that since I’ve been hogging the computer working on the paper for the last week, she’s got dibs for the next week. I’ll have to find something else to do. Do they still make books to read?) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850/20 "2009-05-19T12:53:48Z")
I spent my Victoria Day at the office. It was officially closed, but it was a great chance to get caught up on a few things that the usual phone calls and appointments keep me from doing. Besides, Monday’s weather was overcast and cool, so I didn’t miss much. And I got out for my first round of golf for the year on Sunday, so the weekend wasn’t all work. Overall, it was a good long weekend. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-victoria-day/496850.md?page=2)