Should Remembrance Day be a national holiday?

[Magnum PEI]

Well Quebec doesn't really celebrate it, and almost half of them see the military as a foreign occupier, so no. Also it's ridiculous and used more as a tool to promote militarism and nationalism.

[InSutterWeTrust]

Provincially in Alberta this is a recognized stat. So if you work for and Oil and Gas company, congrats you get the day off, or if not off you get paid a stat wage. If you work for a federally regulated company like Canada Post, you get to work and its regular pay. Remembrance day is not a recognized stat for federally regulated companies.

A majority of federally regulated companies have union backings, transportation, marine shipping, railway, airlines, IE teamsters, Canadian postal workers. Unions have very strong ties to the NDP. Not really surprising that it is an NDP that would be pushing this forward, benefit the federally regulated companies and unions.

I have no problem with it, I think it should be a recognized federal stat anyway. I think this day means much more to Canada, than the birthday of a previous queen in May.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

How is the day used to honour sacrifice when you have all those people working in malls and retail shops? Heck, my office is giving people the option of coming in and working on Remembrance Day. I think it's one of the more important days of the year and I believe it should be a national holiday.

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

Because there are huge groups of people that don't get the day off, so that they can serve you while you're "honouring the sacrifices" of so many.

If it's a stat holiday, all employees in non-essential services should get the day off.

It's not dictating what you get to do on your holiday, it's allowing everyone that same right to that holiday.

Stealth, I was replying to a post about everything being closed on stat Holidays...period. As for Remembrance Day, I think things being closed until noon should suffice.

Chill...so July long weekend, can't stop for gas if going away? How about a campground or hotels? Would they be closed too? Surely those staff need time off as well. Restaurants need to be open if hotels are open. If they can serve food why can't grocery stores be open?

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by Zevo

Stealth, I was reply to a post about everything being closed on stat Holidays...period. As for Remembrance Day, I think things being closed until noon should suffice.

Chill...so July long weekend, can't stop for gas if going away? How about a campground or hotels? Would they be closed too? Surely those staff need time off as well. Restaurants need to be open if hotels are open. If they can serve food why can't grocery stores be open?

To which I was responding in favour of said closures. I would however be on board with everything closed until noon.

[Chill Cosby]

Originally Posted by Zevo

Stealth, I was replying to a post about everything being closed on stat Holidays...period. As for Remembrance Day, I think things being closed until noon should suffice.

Chill...so July long weekend, can't stop for gas if going away? How about a campground or hotels? Would they be closed too? Surely those staff need time off as well. Restaurants need to be open if hotels are open. If they can serve food why can't grocery stores be open?

Yeah. All of the above.

Gas stations, hotels, campgrounds (manned campgrounds obviously), everything.

None of this is essential. All of these people deserve to enjoy stat holidays like the rest of us.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

Because there are huge groups of people that don't get the day off, so that they can serve you while you're "honouring the sacrifices" of so many.

If it's a stat holiday, all employees in non-essential services should get the day off.

It's not dictating what you get to do on your holiday, it's allowing everyone that same right to that holiday.

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

Yeah. All of the above.

Gas stations, hotels, campgrounds (manned campgrounds obviously), everything.

None of this is essential. All of these people deserve to enjoy stat holidays like the rest of us.

Work a stat and get more money than usual(and probably get another day off in lieu) #whitepeopleproblems

[Chill Cosby]

Originally Posted by Zevo

Work a stat and get more money than usual(and probably get another day off in lieu) #whitepeopleproblems

Can't eat at a restaurant because they have the same day off I do.
#whitepeopleproblems

Bringing it back to Nov 11th: If the point is to give people a day off to go to the mall then that's pointless. In its current state, having it be a stat holiday isn't very valuable. Some people that use the day for its purpose make it worth it, but for most people, it's just another day to get some shopping done.

Everything closed until noon would certainly be a start though.

[The Goon]

I remember this from last year, but Crossiron Mills doesn't open the mall until 11:05am. It's a token gesture, but it's a good one.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

Because there are huge groups of people that don't get the day off, so that they can serve you while you're "honouring the sacrifices" of so many.

If it's a stat holiday, all employees in non-essential services should get the day off.

It's not dictating what you get to do on your holiday, it's allowing everyone that same right to that holiday.

I think Stats are great how they are. If a company deems it to be profitable to have their employees work a stat for stat pay and this outweighs the obvious negative effect it could have with their employees, then they should be able to do. Couple of reasons for this.

A) The world doesn't stop cause a the government said today should be a day off. Oh crap you screwed up dinner and now have nothing to eat, now what? Going to eat at the Hospital?

B) There are huge opportunities thrown out the window for some businesses by being closed on stats. I.E. what better day is there for a retail store to be open then a day that everyone else has off?

C) Not everyone honors, respects or celebrates every holiday. Christmas day is one of the biggest days for the Box Office because there are a ton of people who don't celbrate Christmas and have nothing to do. This goes for every holiday.

I understand wanting to force Remembrance Day to be more of a day of honoring those who fought for our country and not just a day off for everyone to enjoy but I think that would turn it into more of a day that people resented more than anything.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by MillerTime GFG

I believe it should be a national holiday, yes. I'm trying to keep bias aside, because I had a brother that served and was injured in Afghanistan, but it really should be.

He did bring up a good point from the opposition though, and that was children will probably learn more from what that day means by actually going to school. Otherwise, the onus is on the parents to teach them, which I'd argue for the most part, they wouldn't.

School services could be held on a day leading up. In fact, my kids Schools have service on days other than Nov 11, as they have that day off.

We go to service in town.

[undercoverbrother]

I think we are missing the point.


The point is are we willing to go without "services" for a day to acknowledge those that have lost their life(s) in the service of Canada?


I reckon I can survive for one day.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by The Goon

I remember this from last year, but Crossiron Mills doesn't open the mall until 11:05am. It's a token gesture, but it's a good one.

You are correct I called and they don't open until 11:05 am, I assume it was the least they could do.

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

The biggest mall in Calgary doesn't:

http://www.chinookcentre.com/en/Pages/default.aspx

Hell looks like they go out of their way to let you know they are open......

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I think we are missing the point.


The point is are we willing to go without "services" for a day to acknowledge those that have lost their life(s) in the service of Canada?


I reckon I can survive for one day.

What about visitors to the country or those travelling away from home? You can't expect hotels to kick everyone out for 24 hours.

[polak]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I think we are missing the point.


The point is are we willing to go without "services" for a day to acknowledge those that have lost their life(s) in the service of Canada?


I reckon I can survive for one day.

I just don't see how that accomplishes anything?
Do those sacrifices really get more recognition cause I can't go get McDonalds that day?

I think we should really REALLY get everyone to observe 2 minutes of silence like they do in Warsaw. Youtube it (Warsaw moment of silence). The city literally STOPS in its tracks (cars, trains, everything) for two minutes. That's two minutes where the whole city stops what they're doing and pays their respect.

Much more impactful than forcing Wal-Mart to close. I know the war hits a lot closer to home for people in Poland obviously but I think Canadians could do it.

[InglewoodFan]

It worries me that understanding of what Remembrance Day really means is slipping away. Education about the significance of the world wars has sharply decreased if what I see with my kids is any indication. Heck, I was born in the '70s and most of what I know about the wars I learned on my own because I sought the history out.

I think that men in their late teens and early twenties especially should learn about the horrors of the world wars and what soldiers of their age would have seen and done to ensure the freedoms we all take for granted. I think the further we get from these histories, the more likely we are to be lulled into a state where it can happen again.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

For Albertans it would make zero difference.
In fact, for everyone but Quebec and Manitoba it would make almost zero difference (Ontario and NS seem to either get that day off or another close to it).

We do? That is news to me. I have never had Remembrance Day off in Ontario, or a day close to it. Back when I worked in BC, we used to get the morning off, but not the full day.

Unless you mean Thanksgiving, but that is a national holiday.

Aberta actually has 12 stats and Ontario has 11. Three of Alberta's are for government and banks only, whereas 1 of Ontario's is for banks and government only.

http://www.statutoryholidays.com/alberta.php

http://www.statutoryholidays.com/ontario.php

Surprising that Quebec only has 8 per year (9 are listed, but employers only need to give one of Easter Friday or Monday off).

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

What about visitors to the country or those travelling away from home? You can't expect hotels to kick everyone out for 24 hours.

I am not suggesting that, but we could mirror what is done Christmas day.

Nov 11 is a much more important day than Dec 25, IMO.

Originally Posted by polak

I just don't see how that accomplishes anything?
Do those sacrifices really get more recognition cause I can't go get McDonalds that day?

I think we should really REALLY get everyone to observe 2 minutes of silence like they do in Warsaw. Youtube it (Warsaw moment of silence). The city literally STOPS in its tracks (cars, trains, everything) for two minutes. That's two minutes where the whole city stops what they're doing and pays their respect.

Much more impactful than forcing Wal-Mart to close. I know the war hits a lot closer to home for people in Poland obviously but I think Canadians could do it.

Listen we will never agree.

This country doesn't appreciate their service members' sacrifice, never has.

So what are people's thoughts on stores, et al. being closed on Christmas day?

[habernac]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I am not suggesting that, but we could mirror what is done Christmas day.

Nov 11 is a much more important day than Dec 25, IMO.




Listen we will never agree.

This country doesn't appreciate their service members' sacrifice, never has.

I'd argue that a lot of us do.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by habernac

I'd argue that a lot of us do.

Granted that is a broad brush I have used and for that I apologize habernac.


This thread seems to say different (sorry to offend you).

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I think we are missing the point.

The point is are we willing to go without "services" for a day to acknowledge those that have lost their life(s) in the service of Canada?

I reckon I can survive for one day.

Going without services does not acknowledge or recognize soldiers in any way. We all have lives, businesses and families to run. Taking away my freedom to spend my days and run my business how I please would just piss me off more than anything.

My employees opt to work on Remembrance Day and take Boxing Day off instead (I give them the choice). It gives them more time to spend with their families during the holidays and it's a better time of year for a break. I think in the day-to-day lives of most people, an extra day of leisure is more beneficial than a government-sponsored day of mourning/remembering wars.

Remembrance Day exists, is observed, and isn't going anywhere. Why isn't that enough?