Lt. Gov. David Onley, Nathan Tidridge & Fred Hayward UE at Queen's Park
by Ruth Nicholson UE
Monday November 28 2011 was a great day for Waterdown and a great day for Waterdown High’s history teacher, Nathan Tidridge and his students. Not every Canadian author gets a viceregal launch of a new book. The Honourable David C. Onley Lieutenant Governor of Ontario officially launched Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy by Nathan Tidridge in the Lieutenant Governor’s Suite, located in the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen’s Park Toronto. In attendance were representatives of the Hamilton Branch UELAC, Hamilton and Toronto Branches of the Monarchist League, Dundurn Press and Mr. Tidridge’s students from Waterdown District
Over one hundred people witnessed The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario as he praised Mr. Tidridge for his passion for Canadian history and his enthusiasm to educate his students and indeed all of us about the intricacies of today’s Canadian government. We learned that when Canada was formed it took the best of the American experiment of Republicanism and the order of Britain’s monarchy to form a new type of governing system, a constitutional monarchy. We heard that Ontario’s curriculum for civics in grades 5 and 9 makes no mention of prime minister, lieutenant governor, parliament, governor general, monarch and many more basic words associated with our form of government. This is shocking information.
All is unveiled and clearly explained in Mr. Tidridge’s new book, Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy. The special ceremony was to honour Mr. Tidridge he unveiled this new and much needed book. His Honour David C. Onley stated that if he had the powers that his predecessor Lieutenant Governor John Simcoe possessed, he would make sure that this book became mandatory reading for every student in Ontario. That is high praise indeed!
Nathan Tidridge and his class, with the Hon. David Onley
Mr. Tidridge accompanied his grade 12 class of Active History students and all the members of the student parliament. They were all very impressed by the speeches and ceremony that they witnessed. All had their photos taken on the stairs of the Lieutenant Governor’s offices at Queen’s Park. The student council, as governing body of Waterdown High, was given a special privilege as they were allowed to see the large meeting room that showcased many of the portraits of former Lieutenant Governors such as our own Honourable Lincoln Alexander. Special photos were taken in the upper stairwell area as it housed the portrait of former Lieutenant Governor William P Howland who was from Waterdown and served from 1868- 1873.
This new book, Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy is available in most book stores. It can be ordered on-line through Chapters/Indigo as well. Read more about this remarkable, large print, heavily illustrated book at: