The Unofficial Start of Summer
Written by Mike Cheliak on May 18, 2009 – 8:44 am -In Canada, the celebration of Victoria Day occurs every year on Monday, prior to May 25th. It is the official celebration in Canada of the birthdays of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II. Victoria Day was established as a holiday in Canada West (Now Ontario) in 1845, and became a national holiday in 1901. Before Victoria Day became a national Holiday, people had celebrated Empire Day , beginning in the 1890s as Victoria approached her Diamond jubilee in 1897.
Here in Canada, we still follow much of the official mantra of all the Commonwealth nations in our political structure and pomp. For most of us though, this holiday is THE most important of all the civic holidays for one simple reason.
IT IS THE UNOFFICIAL START OF SUMMER!
Us Canadians just don’t figure it’s worth waiting until the summer solstice on June 20-21 to start summer; we jump the gun just a little! Since much of Canada doesn’t really have much choice but to “experience” a true winter, we have a much more profound appreciation of our warm weather months.
For a lot of us, it is the first real trip to the cottage or the weekend we plant our summer vegetables, flowers and other gardening pursuits. It is also another reason to watch fireworks or if you are a closet pyromaniac; buy your own and light up the neighbourhood.
My family takes this weekend to do a lot of the above but mostly as a good excuse to get together, have some good BBQ food and drink and visit. Not that we need an excuse, but it’s always nice to have a cause to tip a toast to.
In my business life, the start of summer for me represents my busiest photography season of the year. I compress more work into the eight weeks of May and June than I do in any other period of the year. Dance Studios, soccer leagues, baseball clubs and of course the summer Triathlon Season!
I generally finish all my Studio and League photos by the end of June (just prior to the finish of school). This allows me to get everything processed, produced, packaged and delivered in quick order. It also allows me to spend the rest of the summer enjoying my family, visiting the cottage in Quebec, visiting family and travelling with the HSBC Triathlon Series.
I love my family, I love photography and I love the flexibility my business gives me. I also LOVE summer because it is by far the most active season for my business and personal life.
So as a good Canadian, I would like to take this chance to wish everyone a very happy Victoria Day and a Happy Unofficial Start of Summer! Thanks Queeny for kicking off the best part of my year!
In happiness and health as always!
Mike C.
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