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Journée Louis Riel Day
9/25/2007 at 1:31 PM
Well, it's official. The third Monday in February is a new stat holiday in Manitoba and will be called Journée Louis Riel Day. The first one will be 18 February 2008.
Good choice on the name. We do so little to celebrate our history and, in Manitoba, we owe a lot to Louis Riel. I'm sure there are some folks from that era that must be turning over in their graves right now !!
The news story:
Manitoba's February holiday is Journée Louis Riel Day
Winnipeg Free Press 12:42 PM 25 September 2007
The new February holiday will be named Journee Louis Riel Day. Labour Minister Nancy Allan made the announcement this afternoon, saying the name honours one of the province's founding fathers.
The moniker was chosen by the province's youth committee who selected the name from entries from 114 schools. Nearly a dozen schools made a pitch to name the holiday after the Metis leader, and each will get a $1,000 library grant.
Last spring, after a long winter and a public campaign launched by a local radio station, the province capitulated and agreed to make the third Monday in February a stat holiday.
Most offices and workplaces will be closed, though shopping is allowed following Sunday hours.