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A 1985 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Source: https://www.npg.org.uk (May be subject to copyright) |
The memories I have of the Queen from the 1980s are odd and scattered, from how I first heard about her and her different images on our money, to a curious plot to assassinate her and her effect on the very law that governs our land.
In the beginning
Much of my knowledge came from my Mom, like so many things back then. She was the one who told me the queen’s father had died when Elizabeth was young and, with no sons, she became queen. Mom said she remembered the coronation in 1953. She also told me Prince Phillip was not English, but born Greek, and actually had to convert to the Anglican Church, and that Princess Margaret was Elizabeth’s sister.
Much of my knowledge came from my Mom, like so many things back then. She was the one who told me the queen’s father had died when Elizabeth was young and, with no sons, she became queen. Mom said she remembered the coronation in 1953. She also told me Prince Phillip was not English, but born Greek, and actually had to convert to the Anglican Church, and that Princess Margaret was Elizabeth’s sister.
On the money
Queen Elizabeth II occupied a prominent place in Canadian culture. Her head shot was on the one, two and 20-dollar bills, as well as the penny, nickel, dime, quarter and later the loonie. Obviously that was when we still had one and two-dollar bills and pennies.
Queen Elizabeth II occupied a prominent place in Canadian culture. Her head shot was on the one, two and 20-dollar bills, as well as the penny, nickel, dime, quarter and later the loonie. Obviously that was when we still had one and two-dollar bills and pennies.
The interesting thing was that, over the years, as Queen Elizabeth II aged, the portraits on the currency did. I always thought that was kind of cool, because you could kind of see each era that represented.
She was also the monarch, so there was the Court of Queen’s Bench; “God Save the Queen”, our other national anthem; and so much more.
A lot of it really came to light when she died, and instantly King or King Charles III was inserted into everything.
Bringing it home
It was a turning point in the history of our country and I was just a bit too young to grasp its significance at the time. Since then, I have learned all about the patriation of the Canadian Constitution in 1982, its significance, and I have observed what its effect has to been on the country
It was a turning point in the history of our country and I was just a bit too young to grasp its significance at the time. Since then, I have learned all about the patriation of the Canadian Constitution in 1982, its significance, and I have observed what its effect has to been on the country
At the time, the media commonly referred to the process as bringing the Constitution home. At the time it was the British North America Act, a statute of the United Kingdom. Bringing it home, or patriating it, meant it would now be a stand alone document in Canada that outlined the vision and institutions of our nation.
In addition to making the British North America Act the Canadian Constitution, the idea was to entrench a bill of rights and add an amending formula.
The process would involve negotiations with the federal government and the 10 provincial governments. The ideal outcome would be all 11 governments agreeing and signing the new Constitution. However, that was never going to happen. The thing was, it didn’t have to happen as the amending formula called for seven provinces representing 50 per cent of the population. That meant, and still means, that Ontario and Quebec have an effective veto if both oppose any change. If one agrees, with six other provinces, the Constitution can be changed.
Ultimately, that was the deal then Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau engineered. He was able to get the support of Ontario and negotiate with the other provinces to get an agreement. It left out Quebec, which was always going to happen, because the provincial government of Quebec at the time was the separatist Parti Quebeçois. They were committed to leaving Canada, so they would never agree to anything that would bring Quebec into the Canadian constitutional family.
So, in the end, an agreement was reached with the federal government and every province signing on to the new Constitution – except Quebec.
That just left the Queen to come to Canada to, essentially, sign over the country to Canadians.
She did that on April 17, 1982, and that is my outstanding memory as a 12 year old – seeing her signing this document on national television.
Everything else, I learned later when I was much older.
I Must Kill the Queen
Coincidentally, in March of 1982, a new series would start airing on CBC, Channel 9 on the peasant vision dial. It would only last six episodes but the end was actually the beginning.
Coincidentally, in March of 1982, a new series would start airing on CBC, Channel 9 on the peasant vision dial. It would only last six episodes but the end was actually the beginning.
It was called “Police Squad”, and it was a spoof in the same vein as “Airplane” and “Top Secret”. It starred Canadian actor Leslie Nielsen as Lieutenant Frank Drebbin. To that point, he had always played serious roles. Nielsen turned that on its head, making fun of how serious, yet inept, Drebbin really was.
I even recall an interview with Michael J. Fox, talking about being a Canadian in the United States and how funny he found it that Leslie Nielsen – Leslie Nielsen of all people – was a comedic actor.
That was because “Police Squad” found new life on the big screen, in a series of three movies called “The Naked Gun”.
The first “Naked Gun” came out in 1988, and centred on a plot – you guessed it – to kill the Queen. To make it even worse, the instrument to terminate the monarch is none other than baseball superstar Reggie Jackson, brainwashed and programmed to kill the Queen.
I still clearly remember him wandering around, glassy eyed, muttering in a robotic monotone, “I must kill the Queen.”
Obviously, he never did, because she lived right up until a year ago.
Parting thoughts
I am 53 years old, and the Queen reigned for all but one of those years. My brother is about to turn 64 and my sister is 62, and the Queen has reigned all but one year in their lives.
I am 53 years old, and the Queen reigned for all but one of those years. My brother is about to turn 64 and my sister is 62, and the Queen has reigned all but one year in their lives.
The Queen was an amazing woman and beyond, and I was just beginning to learn that during the 1980s.
I sure am glad Reggie Jackson never succeeded, because I never would have had the chance otherwise.
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