Jsmth321

I can make it about Canada. I'd venture a lot of people in Canada had no idea today was commonwealth day, not something celebrated as far as I can tell.. Until this post I had never heard of it, and I have been here 15 some odd years now.

Chatter Static

The penguins feel left out...

amideislas

Not to mention the

Commonwealth Brexit bonanza

Potentially making up for nearly a fraction of a fraction of Brexit losses so far. And returning England to former glory.

Scamp

No mate, nobody would know or even care to be quite honest. It's a lovely group and I agree with previous posters about the importance of the war graves commission amongst other things, let's be honest, it's just a bit of a club for the sake of it.

That to one side, this thread is just a vehicle for Bipat to do the usual.

Bipat

"Usual" what? Perhaps it can be explained which countries are allowed to be represented on TIO--presumably Canada--USA --UAE---OK?

Just because you are ignorant regarding an international group doesn't mean that others are.
You ignore the shared history, education opportunities, scholarships and much else.
The renowned Commonwealth games--- Birmingham --UK neat year----1,000 jobs advertised---good salaries and pensions.

Anyway the 'Day' is past ---it was just a "group" getting together and showing evidence of international community and cooperation which some posters on TIO just give 'lip service to'!

Bipat

Your PM seems to think differently. Uses the words "day was spearheaded by Canadians"

Statement by the Prime Minister on Commonwealth Day | Prime Minister of Canada (pm.gc.ca)

la mancha

Ho-hum, but full marks for trying. Didn't know you read the Express. Does this mean all Express articles are now accepted on BE?

Former Lancastrian

Should have used spearheaded by a select few Canadians as had he not come out with a comment about Commonwealth Day somebody might have complained. I suspect he said more about International Women's day yesterday than he would about Commonwealth Day. I guess a vast majority of 35 and under don't even realize Canada is still part of the Commonwealth or have forgot since they left school. yes we have a Lieutenant Governor and each Province/Territory also has one that represent the Queen but other than that most Canadians get on with their daily lives. If it was so important then why is it not a Statutory Holiday in Canada and do other countries have it as a Stat day?
Yes to wind Canucks up at times I tell them they are just a colony and need guidance from the UK on how to do things but really how does the average Canadian benefit from being part of the Commonwealth?

Bipat

1) As in both my countries possibly little good history education in schools.? (You do have quite a number of people 'escaped' from one other Commonwealth country living there!).
2) It isn't a 'statuary holiday anywhere'.
3) Canadians can benefit as others from the various opportunities mentioned above. (They rank quite high on the games gold medal list!)

The point is it represents cooperation of countries world wide---which posters here keep advocating! Read your PM's speech.

amideislas

• Sport? Ok "Commonwealth games". I've heard of it!
• Music? Eurovision? Or maybe that Kylie Australia advert. I thought that was pretty good.
• Trade? Oh, yeah, those big new trade deals that don't seem to amount to anything new.
• Vaccines? Well, as long as nobody else gets 'em before we do. And who's more deserving than England? After all, they have the Commonwealth.

Scamp

BristolUK

I used to enjoy the Commonwealth Games on the telly. Of course back then, live sports broadcasts were quite limited, plus there was really only the Olympics for athletics.

Once things like World Championships, European Championships (team and individual) came along, plus all the regular 'meets' and other events around the world, the commonwealth games took a back seat.

Lion in Winter

So, are we all sorted then? Commonwealth collaboration good, EU collaboration bad?

robin1234

Didn't we already have that in the UK (a commonwealth member?) Wasn’t that the day they threw that one guy’s statue in the harbour in Bristol?

Red Eric

Commonwealth Games was certainly YUGE when I was growing up in NZ. Didn't seem to have nearly the same significance back in the UK on my return.

I don't remember any mention whatever of Commonwealth Day down under. There were penty of other days of note, including the Queen's Birthday, which is a public holiday but I don't recall anything of Commonwealth Day or recollect the broadcasting of HM making a speech. That was Christmas.