Via national post

 

“Queen Victoria took a great and helpful interest in Canada throughout her reign, which began at the time of the Gilbert and Sullivan rebellions of Mackenzie and Papineau in 1837. She sent the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) to Canada on a visit in 1860, during which he opened the Victoria Bridge in Montreal, then the longest bridge in the world, and laid the corner-stone for the Parliament buildings in Ottawa. She sent her son-in-law, the Marquess of Lorne, to serve as governor-general of Canada from 1878 to 1883, and always treated Macdonald and Sir Wilfrid Laurier with great respect when they came to England. They served her as prime minister of the Dominion or co-premier of the United Province for a total of 43 years….

 

 

Conrad Black sums up eloquently Queen Victoria’s necessary connection to Canada. As well, why she deserves a yearly celebration of her birth.