Reviews and Books in the News
The Royal and Viceregal Fort at York
The Newsletter of The Friends of Fort York and Garrison Common
October 2013
Canadian Royal Heritage Trust
Arthur Bousfield
September 2013
Canadian Monarchist News
2013 Autumn Edition
The Hamilton Loyalist
Volume XII #2 September 2103
The Guardian (Charlottetown, PEI)
August 3rd, 2013
Prince Edward Augustus: Father of the Canadian Crown
Nathan Tidridge, Prince Arthur Herald
June 29th, 2013
Canadians owe debt to Victoria’s dad (appeared in printed version of NP as "The man who made us 'Canadian'")
Randy Boswell, Postmedia News
(appeared in the National Post, Regina Leader-Post, and Windsor Star)
June 18th, 2013
| Canadians owe debt to Victoria's dad (National Post).pdf |
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent: Father of the Canadian Crown mentioned on "The Agenda with Steve Paikin" by Michael Taube
Review of "Prince Edward, Duke of Kent: Father of the Canadian Crown"
Colin Morley UE, Loyalist Trails
May 19th, 2013
As a Loyalist, I am certainly familiar with King George III. It was loyalty to him that cost my Loyalist colonial ancestors pretty well everything they possessed. I also know a fair bit about Queen Victoria. It was during her long reign that Canada emerged as a political entity. But what was there in between? Well, of course, there was Queen Victoria's father, Prince Edward. What do we know about him?
A lot of us have visited Prince Edward Island (named after Edward in 1798) and I have a son and grandson in Prince Edward County so I go there often. But do we know much about the life of Prince Edward himself and his role in Canada's history? It is that gap that Nathan Tidridge set out to clarify in his latest book Prince Edward, Duke Of Kent, Father Of The Canadian Crown. For me, when I discovered that on the cover of the book is a reproduction of a portrait commemorating Edward's 1792 meeting with Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe in Newark during the first royal tour of Upper Canada, that is when it all began to fit together. That is Newark, now Niagara-on-the-Lake, next door to where my Loyalist ancestors settled and it all becomes familiar.
Prince Edward Augustus, Duke Of Kent and Strathearn was born in 1767 (at the site of what would become Buckingham Palace) and died in 1820. He was the fifth of fifteen children of King George III and Queen Charlotte. King George III inherited the throne in 1760. As Edward grew up, he was much influenced by the American Revolution. Edward was six when the Declaration Of Independence was issued and sixteen when the Treaty of Paris was signed.
As the fourth son, Edward was hardly likely to follow his father in the throne. In an effort to keep Edward away from the lifestyles of his older brothers, King George sent Edward to Geneva. When by 1789 Edward had accumulated large debts and fathered a child (mother died in childbirth) King George banished him to Gibraltar in 1790. The hot climate there accentuated Edward's health problems and he pleaded with his father to move him. He would have preferred to return to the Royal Family in England but knowing that was not an option, Edward chose British North America. So in 1791, at age twenty-three, accompanied by his new friend Madame Julie de St. Laurent, Edward was off to Quebec. On December 26, 1791, not long after Edward's arrival in Quebec, Lord Dorchester proclaimed the Constitution Act, resulting in the division of Upper and Lower Canada. Edward immediately began to play a prominent role in that new division.
Supported by extensive research and presented in an easy flowing writing style, Nathan Tidridge proceeds to cover the development of Canada and the important role played by Edward in that development. With brief absences ( in 1794 in the Caribbean and Martinique in military action against France and in 1798 back in England recovering from injuries suffered when his horse rolled on him) Edward spent eleven years in Canada.
I commend the book to you for your information and enjoyment. Further more, I look forward to hearing Mr. Tidridge's presentation on the book at the Loyalist Gala Banquet at the Conference hosted by the Hamilton Branch in Burlington on Saturday June 1st.
A lot of us have visited Prince Edward Island (named after Edward in 1798) and I have a son and grandson in Prince Edward County so I go there often. But do we know much about the life of Prince Edward himself and his role in Canada's history? It is that gap that Nathan Tidridge set out to clarify in his latest book Prince Edward, Duke Of Kent, Father Of The Canadian Crown. For me, when I discovered that on the cover of the book is a reproduction of a portrait commemorating Edward's 1792 meeting with Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe in Newark during the first royal tour of Upper Canada, that is when it all began to fit together. That is Newark, now Niagara-on-the-Lake, next door to where my Loyalist ancestors settled and it all becomes familiar.
Prince Edward Augustus, Duke Of Kent and Strathearn was born in 1767 (at the site of what would become Buckingham Palace) and died in 1820. He was the fifth of fifteen children of King George III and Queen Charlotte. King George III inherited the throne in 1760. As Edward grew up, he was much influenced by the American Revolution. Edward was six when the Declaration Of Independence was issued and sixteen when the Treaty of Paris was signed.
As the fourth son, Edward was hardly likely to follow his father in the throne. In an effort to keep Edward away from the lifestyles of his older brothers, King George sent Edward to Geneva. When by 1789 Edward had accumulated large debts and fathered a child (mother died in childbirth) King George banished him to Gibraltar in 1790. The hot climate there accentuated Edward's health problems and he pleaded with his father to move him. He would have preferred to return to the Royal Family in England but knowing that was not an option, Edward chose British North America. So in 1791, at age twenty-three, accompanied by his new friend Madame Julie de St. Laurent, Edward was off to Quebec. On December 26, 1791, not long after Edward's arrival in Quebec, Lord Dorchester proclaimed the Constitution Act, resulting in the division of Upper and Lower Canada. Edward immediately began to play a prominent role in that new division.
Supported by extensive research and presented in an easy flowing writing style, Nathan Tidridge proceeds to cover the development of Canada and the important role played by Edward in that development. With brief absences ( in 1794 in the Caribbean and Martinique in military action against France and in 1798 back in England recovering from injuries suffered when his horse rolled on him) Edward spent eleven years in Canada.
I commend the book to you for your information and enjoyment. Further more, I look forward to hearing Mr. Tidridge's presentation on the book at the Loyalist Gala Banquet at the Conference hosted by the Hamilton Branch in Burlington on Saturday June 1st.
Author hits trifecta with release of latest book, Flamborough Review
April 18th, 2013
| Flamborough Review Article, April 18th 2013.pdf |
Incorrect textbooks being used to teach civics in Ontario, Globe and Mail
April 15th, 2013
| Globe and Mail Article, April 15th, 2013.pdf |
Re-Appraising The Crown in Canada
Peter Russell
The Sachem & Gazette
November 8th, 2012
Canada's Constitutional Monarchy quoted by Globe and Mail columnist Dr. Carolyn Harris
August 10th, 2012
Governor General Johnston quotes Canada's Constitutional Monarchy during Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London, UK.
Diamond Jubilee Review
Carolyn Harris: Royal Historian
April 9th, 2012
The distinctive cover of Nathan Tidridge’s richly illustrated book, Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy alludes to a controversial image of Elizabeth II as Queen of Canada. In 1988, artist Charles Patcher created a pastel portrait of the Queen in uniform as Colonel in Chief of the Scots Guards. While Clive Uptton’s 1960s portrait of the Queen in uniform showed her at the Trooping of the Colour parade on horseback, Patcher portrayed the Queen riding sidesaddle on a moose, an animal with a habitat that encompasses nearly all of Canada.
The image was part of a series of landscapes that showed the Queen performing official duties in the presence of a moose. While the series received hostile reactions from many art critics at the time it was first exhibited, it has become an iconic collection of images exploring Canadian national identity. Prince Charles requested copies for Princes William and Harry, and Patcher created another piece in 2011 showing the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greeting the moose for the first time. The image is an appropriate one for Tidridge’s work, which explores the numerous ways in which the crown is embedded in Canadian history, politics and society, covering a diverse range of topics from public ceremonies to the royal imprint on Canadian geography.
Tidridge is a high school teacher of Canadian history and government and a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal for his fifteen years of volunteer support in the education of Canadians on the role of the crown. Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy naturally focuses on educating Canadians about the historical and political significance of the monarchy and would make an excellent textbook for any Canadian history or civics course. In contrast to the other recently published works about Canada and the Crown,The Secret Of The Crown: Canada’s Affair With Royalty and The Evolving Canadian Crown, Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy includes numerous illustrations of the various honours conferred by the crown, key moments from royal tours, and Canadian art depicting members of the royal family. The various appendices to the main text include resources for further information, definitions of key terms, titles and offices, and a complete list of past royal representatives in British and French Canada.
Once of the great strengths of Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy is its analysis of the diversity of connections between Canada’s provinces and the crown. Since education is a provincial responsibility, the amount of information high school students learn about the role of the crown in Canada’s history and politics varies by region, impeding a cohesive national narrative about the Canadian monarchy. The different provincial governments also have different approaches to the crown. As Tidridge explains, “In Saskatchewan, the Crown is a powerful symbol embraced by the government as a means of maintaining political autonomy within Confederation . . .In Quebec, the final stage of a bill becoming law is simply called “Assent,” the “Royal” having been removed decades ago.” This diversity of experience is essential to understanding the reasons for differing popular perceptions of the crown across Canada.
Tidridge calls for the inclusion of the crown in history and civics secondary school classes across Canada. I would have been interested to read more about his ideas for expanding popular knowledge of this key aspect of Canada’s government and history. Appendix A mentions that CBC’s first documentary in 3-D was about Queen Elizabeth II, showcasing 3D footage from the 1953 coronation and 2010 Royal tour. More documentaries, public art exhibitions and museum displays might serve as another means of generating popular interest in the Canadian crown in addition to revising the high school curriculum.
Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy is a fascinating overview of the key aspects of Canada’s relationship with the crown, incorporating the full regional diversity of the monarchy’s role. The clear glossaries and illustrations make this work an ideal resource for readers who like to expand their knowledge of Canada’s history and government.
www.royalhistorian.com
The image was part of a series of landscapes that showed the Queen performing official duties in the presence of a moose. While the series received hostile reactions from many art critics at the time it was first exhibited, it has become an iconic collection of images exploring Canadian national identity. Prince Charles requested copies for Princes William and Harry, and Patcher created another piece in 2011 showing the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greeting the moose for the first time. The image is an appropriate one for Tidridge’s work, which explores the numerous ways in which the crown is embedded in Canadian history, politics and society, covering a diverse range of topics from public ceremonies to the royal imprint on Canadian geography.
Tidridge is a high school teacher of Canadian history and government and a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal for his fifteen years of volunteer support in the education of Canadians on the role of the crown. Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy naturally focuses on educating Canadians about the historical and political significance of the monarchy and would make an excellent textbook for any Canadian history or civics course. In contrast to the other recently published works about Canada and the Crown,The Secret Of The Crown: Canada’s Affair With Royalty and The Evolving Canadian Crown, Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy includes numerous illustrations of the various honours conferred by the crown, key moments from royal tours, and Canadian art depicting members of the royal family. The various appendices to the main text include resources for further information, definitions of key terms, titles and offices, and a complete list of past royal representatives in British and French Canada.
Once of the great strengths of Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy is its analysis of the diversity of connections between Canada’s provinces and the crown. Since education is a provincial responsibility, the amount of information high school students learn about the role of the crown in Canada’s history and politics varies by region, impeding a cohesive national narrative about the Canadian monarchy. The different provincial governments also have different approaches to the crown. As Tidridge explains, “In Saskatchewan, the Crown is a powerful symbol embraced by the government as a means of maintaining political autonomy within Confederation . . .In Quebec, the final stage of a bill becoming law is simply called “Assent,” the “Royal” having been removed decades ago.” This diversity of experience is essential to understanding the reasons for differing popular perceptions of the crown across Canada.
Tidridge calls for the inclusion of the crown in history and civics secondary school classes across Canada. I would have been interested to read more about his ideas for expanding popular knowledge of this key aspect of Canada’s government and history. Appendix A mentions that CBC’s first documentary in 3-D was about Queen Elizabeth II, showcasing 3D footage from the 1953 coronation and 2010 Royal tour. More documentaries, public art exhibitions and museum displays might serve as another means of generating popular interest in the Canadian crown in addition to revising the high school curriculum.
Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy is a fascinating overview of the key aspects of Canada’s relationship with the crown, incorporating the full regional diversity of the monarchy’s role. The clear glossaries and illustrations make this work an ideal resource for readers who like to expand their knowledge of Canada’s history and government.
www.royalhistorian.com
The Value of Heritage in Canada: A Review of “Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy” by Nathan Tidridge
Adrian Petry
April 3rd, 2012
She’s sitting there on my desk, staring me down. Her eyes follow me when I move about. That smirk-smile on her face makes me think she knows something I don’t. She’s also face-palming a moose. I shake my head and look again. Yes. The Queen’s outstretched, gloved hand rests right on the nose of a bull moose, rack and all.
I have to look again but I think I get it.
The cover image to the book called 'Love Pat' by Charles Pachter.
The Book
Tidridge opens with his passion for making sure people have a better understanding of the nature and role of the Crown of Canada. The Crown is more than the Royal Family in nice hats at garden parties. The Crown and Canada’s government are entrenched, intertwined and enraveled in each other. As difficult as it is, dismissing the Queen as our Head of State would be a far easier task than dismissing the Crown from our political institutions. Tidridge makes it clear that “formal power is vested in a Sovereign, but can only be used by following the rules and unwritten traditions of the constitution of Canada.”
Tidridge’s textbook style work explores the entirety of the Crown and its place in Canada’s institutions. He continually links the members of the Royal Family, past and present (always as representatives of the Head of State – not tabloid mentions) and the Queen herself to their fulfillment of their roles and ceremonial duties. Chapters include a brief history of the Crown in Canada, the Governor General and the Nation Crown, the Lieutenant Governors and the Provincial Crowns, First Nations and the Crown, the Military and the Crown, the Canadian Honours System and the Commonwealth with much more.
Power and Authority
Perhaps his most important chapter, “The Canadian Constitution and Authority” Tidridge explains how and why the system works the way it does. The authority – power relationship in Canada’s government is the most perplexing arrangement out there and more often than not comes into play in the halls of Parliament.
“The story of our constitution is the long story of the absolute powers of the Sovereign gradually being exercised by representatives of the people. Throughout this process, the Crown has remained as the source of authority, but the right to exercise power is now held within Parliament.”
I have conducted a lot of research in power – authority relationships in Canada’s government systems while I was enrolled in History and Political Science at Brock University. Rarely could a source actually describe the relationship between power and authority and what the Crown’s role in that relationship was without getting bogged down in political opinion or precedent. The Crown, as Tidridge says, is meant to stabilize and to “protect the delicate balance of power that has developed in the constitution over centuries…The Crown [is] the source of formal authority in Canada’s government…It is from the Crown that our institutions officially receive their legitimacy.” This explanation is really very important to understand before one gets into the nitty gritty of what the authority – power relationship has morphed into today. It’s clear, in a number of ways, that in efforts to maintain the position of the Crown, the Crown has allowed itself to be stripped of less formal authority. Many authors, journalists and political scientists place day-to-day authority and power in the hands of the Prime Minister. It obviously wasn’t meant to be that way but so many influential changes of modern politics has allowed this change. Tidridge rightly focuses on the important base of this understanding – that the Crown is permanent and that politicians are temporary.
The Image of the Queen & Royal Family
As a true monarchist might, Tidridge has completely shyed away from a tabloid portrayal of the Queen and the other senior members of the Royal family. I think the best work of this nature is his description of the Heir Apparent and his historical construction of traditional roles the Princes of Wales (or Princess Elizabeth, in the Queen’s case) have taken in the past, giving credibility to the Prince’s tours and activities as future Head of State. With regards to Prince Charles, it is a refreshing change of tone from the classic media portrayal, critical of his actions and questioning his role and emphasizing his status as not Head of State, yet. Tidridge gives historical validity to the members of the Royal family by describing past tours and emphasizing their roles of representing the Queen/Head of State during their tour.
Thanks to the Author
I wanted to emphasize my thanks to the author for constructing a neutral, not-so-pushy, not-so-activist, not-so-defensive and not-so-monarchist approach to writing about the Crown in Canada. There is so much rhetoric, republican or monarchist about the Crown and Tidridge managed to write a neutral piece that will help with the education of the public, all sides and in the end, strengthen Canada’s constitutional monarchy. I heard Tidridge speak just last fall and his passion for the subject easily shone through in his presentation. What struck me though was when he said (correct me if I’m wrong), something to the effect of: “I’m not a monarchist. I’m a constitutional monarchist.” I think that sums up his position and perspective perfectly.
Hand on Moose
I’m still trying to make the connection between what I’m seeing and what the title of Tidridge’s book is; Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy. One might expect to see a recently crowned Queen, adorned in her coronation robes in 1953. Or perhaps Canada’s coat of arms. Nope. We have moose and Queen. It’s an intriguing image, attracting attention and representing the many feelings of the relationship between the Crown and Canada. And boy, was I excited to read this book.
As a child of the Harris education system in Ontario, it’s probably not a shock to most when I say that I had to look elsewhere to sooth my hunger for political instruction and information. I was one of the lucky ones; my family’s proximity to the Capitol and the willingness of my mother to take me to Question Period encouraged my interest. Grade 10 Civics came around and I knew at least 300 times more than anyone else in the building, let alone the class and the poor, highly unprepared phys-ed teacher assigned to teach the class, last minute.
Learning about the role of the monarchy and Canada’s system of government can be very difficult but Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy presented complex information simply without dumbing it down.
Nathan Tidridge has taken Canada’s extremely complex governmental systems and constructed a wonderfully accessible and easily readable picture of Canada’s government with Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy. Even better for sales of his work as a textbook, he remains politically neutral, even avoiding the more controversial parliamentary hot topic issues like senate reform, the power of the Prime Minister or controversial First Nations land claims issues. The book is a ‘plain and simple’, ‘politics free’ exploration of the foundation the Canadian government, one that is missing from our schools and society.
Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy should be mandatory reading for all Canadians, not only Civics students and new Canadians, so that they may gain an appreciation for how their country is governed.
The Details
Book: Tidridge, Nathan. Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy. Toronto: Dundurn Natural Heritage, 2011.
Pages: 269 including bibliography.
Price: $26.99 at Chapters-Indigo
Website: canadiancrown.com
About Adrian Petry
Adrian Petry holds a BA in History (Canadian History) and Political Science (Canadian Politics and Administration) from Brock University and is a 2012 candidate for a MA in Public History at Western University. Adrian Petry has been described as a ‘creative and passionate historian and interpreter’ by his supervisors and colleagues. Adrian has spent the past six years as a Natural Heritage Education interpreter with Ontario Parks and is passionate about public education and outreach. His political research interests include; constitutional and senate reform, Canadian electoral politics while his historical research interests include; industrial, urban and social histories of the Rideau and Welland Canals between 1840-1910.
www.notsoprivatehistory.blogspot.ca
I have to look again but I think I get it.
The cover image to the book called 'Love Pat' by Charles Pachter.
The Book
Tidridge opens with his passion for making sure people have a better understanding of the nature and role of the Crown of Canada. The Crown is more than the Royal Family in nice hats at garden parties. The Crown and Canada’s government are entrenched, intertwined and enraveled in each other. As difficult as it is, dismissing the Queen as our Head of State would be a far easier task than dismissing the Crown from our political institutions. Tidridge makes it clear that “formal power is vested in a Sovereign, but can only be used by following the rules and unwritten traditions of the constitution of Canada.”
Tidridge’s textbook style work explores the entirety of the Crown and its place in Canada’s institutions. He continually links the members of the Royal Family, past and present (always as representatives of the Head of State – not tabloid mentions) and the Queen herself to their fulfillment of their roles and ceremonial duties. Chapters include a brief history of the Crown in Canada, the Governor General and the Nation Crown, the Lieutenant Governors and the Provincial Crowns, First Nations and the Crown, the Military and the Crown, the Canadian Honours System and the Commonwealth with much more.
Power and Authority
Perhaps his most important chapter, “The Canadian Constitution and Authority” Tidridge explains how and why the system works the way it does. The authority – power relationship in Canada’s government is the most perplexing arrangement out there and more often than not comes into play in the halls of Parliament.
“The story of our constitution is the long story of the absolute powers of the Sovereign gradually being exercised by representatives of the people. Throughout this process, the Crown has remained as the source of authority, but the right to exercise power is now held within Parliament.”
I have conducted a lot of research in power – authority relationships in Canada’s government systems while I was enrolled in History and Political Science at Brock University. Rarely could a source actually describe the relationship between power and authority and what the Crown’s role in that relationship was without getting bogged down in political opinion or precedent. The Crown, as Tidridge says, is meant to stabilize and to “protect the delicate balance of power that has developed in the constitution over centuries…The Crown [is] the source of formal authority in Canada’s government…It is from the Crown that our institutions officially receive their legitimacy.” This explanation is really very important to understand before one gets into the nitty gritty of what the authority – power relationship has morphed into today. It’s clear, in a number of ways, that in efforts to maintain the position of the Crown, the Crown has allowed itself to be stripped of less formal authority. Many authors, journalists and political scientists place day-to-day authority and power in the hands of the Prime Minister. It obviously wasn’t meant to be that way but so many influential changes of modern politics has allowed this change. Tidridge rightly focuses on the important base of this understanding – that the Crown is permanent and that politicians are temporary.
The Image of the Queen & Royal Family
As a true monarchist might, Tidridge has completely shyed away from a tabloid portrayal of the Queen and the other senior members of the Royal family. I think the best work of this nature is his description of the Heir Apparent and his historical construction of traditional roles the Princes of Wales (or Princess Elizabeth, in the Queen’s case) have taken in the past, giving credibility to the Prince’s tours and activities as future Head of State. With regards to Prince Charles, it is a refreshing change of tone from the classic media portrayal, critical of his actions and questioning his role and emphasizing his status as not Head of State, yet. Tidridge gives historical validity to the members of the Royal family by describing past tours and emphasizing their roles of representing the Queen/Head of State during their tour.
Thanks to the Author
I wanted to emphasize my thanks to the author for constructing a neutral, not-so-pushy, not-so-activist, not-so-defensive and not-so-monarchist approach to writing about the Crown in Canada. There is so much rhetoric, republican or monarchist about the Crown and Tidridge managed to write a neutral piece that will help with the education of the public, all sides and in the end, strengthen Canada’s constitutional monarchy. I heard Tidridge speak just last fall and his passion for the subject easily shone through in his presentation. What struck me though was when he said (correct me if I’m wrong), something to the effect of: “I’m not a monarchist. I’m a constitutional monarchist.” I think that sums up his position and perspective perfectly.
Hand on Moose
I’m still trying to make the connection between what I’m seeing and what the title of Tidridge’s book is; Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy. One might expect to see a recently crowned Queen, adorned in her coronation robes in 1953. Or perhaps Canada’s coat of arms. Nope. We have moose and Queen. It’s an intriguing image, attracting attention and representing the many feelings of the relationship between the Crown and Canada. And boy, was I excited to read this book.
As a child of the Harris education system in Ontario, it’s probably not a shock to most when I say that I had to look elsewhere to sooth my hunger for political instruction and information. I was one of the lucky ones; my family’s proximity to the Capitol and the willingness of my mother to take me to Question Period encouraged my interest. Grade 10 Civics came around and I knew at least 300 times more than anyone else in the building, let alone the class and the poor, highly unprepared phys-ed teacher assigned to teach the class, last minute.
Learning about the role of the monarchy and Canada’s system of government can be very difficult but Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy presented complex information simply without dumbing it down.
Nathan Tidridge has taken Canada’s extremely complex governmental systems and constructed a wonderfully accessible and easily readable picture of Canada’s government with Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy. Even better for sales of his work as a textbook, he remains politically neutral, even avoiding the more controversial parliamentary hot topic issues like senate reform, the power of the Prime Minister or controversial First Nations land claims issues. The book is a ‘plain and simple’, ‘politics free’ exploration of the foundation the Canadian government, one that is missing from our schools and society.
Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy should be mandatory reading for all Canadians, not only Civics students and new Canadians, so that they may gain an appreciation for how their country is governed.
The Details
Book: Tidridge, Nathan. Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy. Toronto: Dundurn Natural Heritage, 2011.
Pages: 269 including bibliography.
Price: $26.99 at Chapters-Indigo
Website: canadiancrown.com
About Adrian Petry
Adrian Petry holds a BA in History (Canadian History) and Political Science (Canadian Politics and Administration) from Brock University and is a 2012 candidate for a MA in Public History at Western University. Adrian Petry has been described as a ‘creative and passionate historian and interpreter’ by his supervisors and colleagues. Adrian has spent the past six years as a Natural Heritage Education interpreter with Ontario Parks and is passionate about public education and outreach. His political research interests include; constitutional and senate reform, Canadian electoral politics while his historical research interests include; industrial, urban and social histories of the Rideau and Welland Canals between 1840-1910.
www.notsoprivatehistory.blogspot.ca
Queen Elizabeth not foreign to us
Hamilton Spectator
March 9th, 2012
March 9th, 2012
January 16th, 2012 - Review
Nathan Tidridge has written an excellent and accessible introduction to constitutional monarchy in Canada – its history, heraldic symbols, role in the constitution – and the evolution of the Crown in Canada and the Crown of Canada. Tidrigde effectively differentiates between the Queen of Canada, the Governor General, and the Lieutenant Governors; and it explains the Crown in relation to First Nations, heraldic symbols, and the Armed Forces. Overall, Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy strikes a fine balance of offering accessible explanations for a wide audience eager to learn about our system without compromising constitutional accuracy. It even shows the more jovial nature of the Canadian Crown through the use of an iconic painting of Queen Elizabeth II and moose.
Tidridge’s diagrams illustrating the some key constitutional functions of the Crown are particularly instructive. The following images effectively explain the significance of the Statute of Westminster of 1931, which formally established the Crowns of the Dominions as legally separate entities. The Dominions started out as Crown colonies, but as responsible government developed in the United Kingdom, the British Cabinet (rather than the reigning monarch) exercised practical control over policy affecting the Dominions. The legislatures of the Dominions were therefore not sovereign; they consisted of the King of the United Kingdom, and their upper and lower houses. This colonial control extended to the Governor General, who used to function as an agent of the British government that nominated him. But the Statute of Westminster, as this diagram shows, fundamentally altered that relationship by establishing a personal union of legally separate Crowns such that, for instance, the Parliament of Canada consisted of (at the time) the King of Canada, the Senate, and the House of Commons. The Governors General also became representatives of the Dominion Crowns rather than agents of the British government.
Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy also includes an approximation of what the constitutional scholar David E. Smith has dubbed “the compound monarchy” that constitutes Canada as a federation. The diagram depicts the classical federalism that the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council shaped in Canada: the provinces and the federal are co-equal in their spheres of jurisdiction. Parenthetically, republicans often overlook the Crown in its capacity as the guarantor of Canadian federalism and rarely explain how their new form of government would take into account the void left by the elimination of the provincial Heads of State, the Lieutenant Governors.
I highly recommend Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy.
James W. J. Bowden
Parliamentum.org
The Bay Observer
December 7th, 2011
John Best, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Loyalist Trails - Review of Canada's Constitutional Monarchy
November 13th, 2011
Canada's Constitutional Monarchy by Nathan Tidridge delivers on its promise to take us past the parliamentary walls of power to the underlying principles of Canadian Government, and, more specifically, the role of our Queen and her representatives in Canada. I liked it. Admittedly, The prospect of 285 pages of government statutes and founding formulas had me worried... needlessly.
My wife is a Royalist junkie. You know the sort. Cups and saucers. Books and magazines. Newspaper clippings older than I am... She absolutely loved the quality colour illustrations and photos - dozens and dozens of them, many of them "unfindable" anywhere else.
Although the story begins all the way back there with the 1215 Magna Carta, the history lesson constitutes only a modest (but interesting) minority portion of the book. Where this publication really shines is as a resource reference. You might have guessed that Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is the Colonel-in-Chief of Toronto's Queen's York Rangers, but did you know that the Countess of Wessex, the very photogenic wife of Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth's youngest son, is the Colonel-in-Chief of our very own Lincoln and Welland Regiment?
John Fraser, Master of Massey College, has called this book "an invaluable guide to all things royal in Canada", a very appropriate caption description and a fitting final word for this review.
Paul L. Bingle UE, Hamilton Branch Librarian, Loyalist Trails Newsletter (November 13th, 2011), United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada
November 13th, 2011
Canada's Constitutional Monarchy by Nathan Tidridge delivers on its promise to take us past the parliamentary walls of power to the underlying principles of Canadian Government, and, more specifically, the role of our Queen and her representatives in Canada. I liked it. Admittedly, The prospect of 285 pages of government statutes and founding formulas had me worried... needlessly.
My wife is a Royalist junkie. You know the sort. Cups and saucers. Books and magazines. Newspaper clippings older than I am... She absolutely loved the quality colour illustrations and photos - dozens and dozens of them, many of them "unfindable" anywhere else.
Although the story begins all the way back there with the 1215 Magna Carta, the history lesson constitutes only a modest (but interesting) minority portion of the book. Where this publication really shines is as a resource reference. You might have guessed that Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is the Colonel-in-Chief of Toronto's Queen's York Rangers, but did you know that the Countess of Wessex, the very photogenic wife of Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth's youngest son, is the Colonel-in-Chief of our very own Lincoln and Welland Regiment?
John Fraser, Master of Massey College, has called this book "an invaluable guide to all things royal in Canada", a very appropriate caption description and a fitting final word for this review.
Paul L. Bingle UE, Hamilton Branch Librarian, Loyalist Trails Newsletter (November 13th, 2011), United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada
Writing for Queen and country
By Catherine O’Hara, REVIEW STAFF
November 17th, 2011
November 17th, 2011
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A Waterdown high school teacher was becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of accurate information and resourc es available to Canadians that detailed the country’s unique relationship with the Monarchy. So the passionate educator, fueled by his keen interest in history and civics, set out on a fact-finding mission that aimed to better educate Canadians about the Crown. The research culminated in a 288-page paperback book filled with easy-to-read material that appropriately depicts the role of the Crown in our country. Tidridge’s work, Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy, hit bookshelves across Canada – and the world – last week. |
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The labour of love, which involved countless hours of research and months of writing, was spurred by the Waterdown District High School teacher’s desire to provide Canadians of all ages with the opportunity to educate themselves on the Crown.
“It’s a fully Canadian institution,” said Tidridge. “It’s quirky; it’s unique; it’s different. That’s what I like about it.”
The book, he explained, serves as a positive introduction to the Monarchy, its role and how it helped shape the country – aspects that aren’t accurately explored in any high school manuals.
“The textbooks that we have are awful. They are incorrect,” he stated.
As Grade 10 students across Ontario are presented with scant information about government in their civics class, Tidridge wonders how youth are expected to participate in the country’s democracy if they have inaccurate knowledge of its inner workings and its history.
“Government is really abstract for them,” he said.
Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy, published by Dundurn Press, breaks down the complexity of the Canadian institution and its traditions.
Faced with the challenge of keeping readers engaged throughout the tome, Tidridge incorporated art and photographs.
The visual additions to the manuscript not only provide breaks in the text, they enable readers to enjoy the Monarchy’s colourful institution.
Throughout his research, Tidridge relied heavily on the knowledge of notable experts, including professor Thomas Symons and Father Jacques Monet. The author, who recently welcomed a second bundle of joy to his Carlisle family, also turned to Canadian and Ontario government agencies, such as the Canadian Secretary to the Queen, the Department of Canadian Heritage, Rideau Hall and office of the Lieutenant Governor, for information.
“So many people have worked really hard,” noted Tidridge, who was also grateful to Charles Pachter, a Toronto artist who allowed him to use one of his contemporary paintings to be featured on the cover of Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy.
“As soon as I saw it, I loved it,” said the author of the vibrant portrait that features Queen Elizabeth II petting a moose. “It’s so Canadian.”
Hopeful his book will serve as a valued resource in classrooms across the country, Tidridge described Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy as “the only book of its kind in the Commonwealth.”
Website
A website, which complements the book’s content, provides readers with interesting details about the Canadian Crown, as well as information about the author and a list of his scheduled speaking engagements and appearances, which include a book signing at Pickwick Books, located at 325 Dundas St. East, from 12:30 until 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19.
An official book launch is also scheduled to take place this month and the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable David C. Onley, has offered to host the special event at Queen’s Park on Monday, Nov. 28.
More information on Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy is available online at www.canadiancrown.com.
“It’s a fully Canadian institution,” said Tidridge. “It’s quirky; it’s unique; it’s different. That’s what I like about it.”
The book, he explained, serves as a positive introduction to the Monarchy, its role and how it helped shape the country – aspects that aren’t accurately explored in any high school manuals.
“The textbooks that we have are awful. They are incorrect,” he stated.
As Grade 10 students across Ontario are presented with scant information about government in their civics class, Tidridge wonders how youth are expected to participate in the country’s democracy if they have inaccurate knowledge of its inner workings and its history.
“Government is really abstract for them,” he said.
Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy, published by Dundurn Press, breaks down the complexity of the Canadian institution and its traditions.
Faced with the challenge of keeping readers engaged throughout the tome, Tidridge incorporated art and photographs.
The visual additions to the manuscript not only provide breaks in the text, they enable readers to enjoy the Monarchy’s colourful institution.
Throughout his research, Tidridge relied heavily on the knowledge of notable experts, including professor Thomas Symons and Father Jacques Monet. The author, who recently welcomed a second bundle of joy to his Carlisle family, also turned to Canadian and Ontario government agencies, such as the Canadian Secretary to the Queen, the Department of Canadian Heritage, Rideau Hall and office of the Lieutenant Governor, for information.
“So many people have worked really hard,” noted Tidridge, who was also grateful to Charles Pachter, a Toronto artist who allowed him to use one of his contemporary paintings to be featured on the cover of Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy.
“As soon as I saw it, I loved it,” said the author of the vibrant portrait that features Queen Elizabeth II petting a moose. “It’s so Canadian.”
Hopeful his book will serve as a valued resource in classrooms across the country, Tidridge described Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy as “the only book of its kind in the Commonwealth.”
Website
A website, which complements the book’s content, provides readers with interesting details about the Canadian Crown, as well as information about the author and a list of his scheduled speaking engagements and appearances, which include a book signing at Pickwick Books, located at 325 Dundas St. East, from 12:30 until 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19.
An official book launch is also scheduled to take place this month and the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable David C. Onley, has offered to host the special event at Queen’s Park on Monday, Nov. 28.
More information on Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy is available online at www.canadiancrown.com.