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As a class, brainstorm a list of national holidays in Canada. Then ask students to name some holidays in Canada or elsewhere that commemorate a single individual. Why doesn’t Canada have any such national holiday? Why are holidays like this common in the United States? Do you think Canadians would be more knowledgeable about and appreciative of their country’s history and important figures if such holidays existed? Why or why not?

Create a list of public figures from the past or present who students think might qualify for commemoration through a national holiday. Ask students to give reasons.

Direct students to the topic Sir John A. Macdonald: Architect of Modern Canada on the CBC Radio and Television Archives web site. Have them first examine clip 4, where there is information about proposals that Macdonald’s birthday, January 11, be declared a national holiday in his honour. Have students note the main arguments for and against this idea.

Divide the class into two groups to debate the question: “Should Sir John A. Macdonald’s Birthday be declared a national holiday in Canada?” Have students search the site in order to find arguments to support their position. They can also use other arguments drawn from their own views on the question and their opinions regarding the importance of holidays in a country’s national life.

Conduct an informal debate involving the entire class. Each side in the debate can employ the “tag-team” approach, where one person presents an argument, followed by another one, until every participant has had the opportunity to be involved. Each team should then present a closing statement, summarizing its main arguments.

Following the debate, conduct an in-class vote on the issue, in order to determine whether or not students think Sir John A. Macdonald’s birthday should be declared a national holiday. Record the results of the vote on the board.

Ask: Do you think making Macdonald’s birthday a national holiday would help people better understand and appreciate his significance? Why or why not?

Students can write to their MP stating their view on declaring Macdonald’s birthday a national holiday, and explaining what action they would like their representative to take.