- by Kate Walsh

A long time ago I was a historian. I was hired to write a walking tour of a cemetery.

My friend told me how much she loves the May 24th long weekend, otherwise known as Victoria Day. Which caused me to reflect on the weekend. I, too, love the promise of summer without having gifts and big meals to prepare. I remembered this story I researched for the walking tour…

Typically this holiday was to celebrate the birthday of Queen Victoria. When she passed, King Edward VII’s birthday was to be celebrated but his birthday was in November.

Edward Henry Horsey was this area’s MP in 1901. He was an MD who worked for Sun Life for many years and eventually lived in Owen Sound. He is in the Canadian Hansards giving a very impassioned speech about why Canadians should continue to celebrate May 24th rather than moving the holiday to November. He speaks about picnickers, fishermen and holidayers. He speaks to the short summer season in Canada and the miserable weather in November.

Unfortunately, very shortly later he was hit in the head by a piece of a fly wheel in a factory in Owen Sound in 1902. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Raise a glass to Edward Henry Horsey this weekend and thank him!