Canada Had it Right All Along

It's been a long winter so far. Sure, we've seen some snow and ice and as I write this I am kind of snowed in - but I am not talking about snow. For whatever reason this winter has been long. Like really long.

It could be the news. We're really fucking things up over here and the best is yet to come. I don't have to tell you what - because you see the news. It's not good.

Maybe it's the egg prices. Or the looming bird flu. Or even the fact that we haven't seen much sun this year. Or Elon.

Whatever the reason the mood is not sunny.

It's not just me - almost every person in my back seat has stated that this winter has been long even though the snow hasn't been that bad. But there's something off this year. Things seem gloomier this year than in other years.

If only we had a bit of a break.

A break in mid February sound awesome, no? A Monday off where you can sleep in, or work on your hobbies and turn off the news for a day. The world can stop turning for a day, right?

Well....it depends.

President's Day in the USA

Here in the US though it's pretty much business as usual unless you're a federal employee (assuming there are any left) or like my six-year-old: on winter break.

Until the late 1980s, corporate businesses generally closed on this day, similar to present corporate practices on Memorial Day or Christmas Day.^[46] However, after having been moved to the third Monday, most businesses remain open with many offering sales and other promotions.

I have to ask: What is the point of having a holiday if you have to work?

I don't have much experience in the corporate world but I do know enough to know that if you are at work it is not a holiday. Or at least my kind of holiday.

Family Day in Canada

During the Ontario provincial election in 2007, Dalton McGuinty (Liberal Party) promised that, if re-elected premier, he would establish a provincial holiday in February. On October 12, 2007, the provincial government established Family Day on the third Monday in February, to be first observed on February 18, 2008. Its creation raised Ontario's number of statutory holidays to nine per year

If I'm understanding this right, Canada actually added a holiday, but in the USA things trended the other way and what used to be a holiday is now just a day where you can buy a fridge on sale on the way home from work.

Of course, I will be claiming my sovereign right as a Canadian to nap on the couch this Family Day with my family all around me.

You others? You can go to work. It's not the 1980's any more - so off you go. Just don't forget to pick up your fridge on the way home.

At least it will be on sale. You've got that going for you.