Celebrating Irish Heritage Month

Please enjoy my statement marking Irish Heritage Month and celebrating the incredible contributions those of Irish decent have made to our country

Honourable colleagues, it is a privilege to speak virtually in the House today to discuss Private Member's Motion M-18, a Motion to proclaim Irish Heritage Month in Canada.

If passed, this Motion will establish March as a month of recognition to commemorate and celebrate the historic legacy and contributions of the Irish community in Canada.

Irish settlement and history in Canada date back to the 1600s, much earlier than is commonly believed, with the Great Famine of 1847, which drove large numbers of Irish people to seek a new future away from their birth home. 

The early Irish newcomers arriving in Canada settled in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.  Their heritage is strong and proud in communities across the Atlantic provinces, and beyond.

Quebec also received large numbers of Irish immigrants, with passenger ships carrying them as far inland as Quebec City and even Montreal, which was as far down the St. Lawrence as was possible before the construction of the Lachine Canal, an incredible feat of engineering that was largely built by Irish migrant labourers.

As time went on, the Irish community would slowly move west and by the early 1850s, roughly a quarter of Toronto was Irish Catholic. In recognition of its Irish Heritage, Ireland Park, on Toronto’s lakeshore, features sculptures directly mirroring those across the ocean in Dublin’s Famine Memorial.

Over the years, as Canadians of Irish descent became more established, their influence began to be seen and felt across the country. With grit and courage, Irish people seized their opportunities and prospered in their new homes. Through their skills and energy, they and their descendants made a profound and lasting impact on the character and development of Canada.

In 1851, the Irish in Quebec City founded the Quebec Ship Labourer's Benevolent Association, which functioned as a labour union and is considered by many to be the first labour union in Canada. 

It was Emily Ferguson Murphy, the first woman in the British Empire to be appointed a magistrate, who led the legal challenge that led to the Supreme Court's ruling that allowed some women to be recognized as legal persons, under the British North America Act.

In fact, Canadian politics has had its share of notable Irish figures, including Sir Guy Carleton, Thomas D’Arcy McGee, and former Prime Ministers Lester Bowles Pearson and Brian Mulroney, to name but a few.

While Irish people were coming to Canada to seek new opportunities in a new land, they never forgot where they came from and kept traces of their origins in their traditional music and dance.  These were ways to bring a small piece of home with them wherever they went. 

St. Patrick’s Day, a day on which those of Irish heritage wear it proudly on their sleeve, still holds a strong significance for Canadians. There has been a St. Patrick’s Day celebration every year in Montreal since 1824, and Toronto’s celebration, one of the largest in North America, typically sees about a quarter of a million people line the streets to watch the parade.

St Patrick’s Day is also of extra special significance to my neighbours in Milton, Neil and Mel Teague. But that story requires a little history lesson.

Back in 1964, Roy Teague and his wife Kathy decided to leave DerryGonelley, County Fermanagh in their native Ireland. With all the turmoil in northern Ireland at the time, they wanted a safer and more peaceful place to raise their boys. Roy’s uncle Jimmy had already immigrated to Canada, and it got good reviews, so the Teagues followed.

Kathy and Roy settled in Omah, between Milton and Oakville and Roy was immediately hired by the Oakville Police, and served honourably in many capacities, for Halton Police services, throughout his career. Their boys Neil and Colin enjoyed softball so he learned enough about the game to become a good coach. Roy and Kathy live in Burlington now, and recently celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary.

Neil continued with the game of softball, eventually playing for Team Canada and is a member of Provincial Softball Hall of Fame, as well as our very own Milton Sports Hall Of Fame, class of 2019. Neil and Mel’s kids Sydney and Aidan play ball in Milton, and can often be found at M3 Baseball academy, Neil’s baseball and softball training facility in town.

So why is St. Patrick’s Day so extra special for Neil and Mel? Well Mel’s also got Irish heritage on both sides of her family, so it’s only appropriate that Neil and Mel got married on St. Patricks Day, and next week they’ll be celebrating 16years together.

The history of the Irish community in Canada stretches back centuries and their influence and contributions are undeniable. Without Canadians of Irish descent, like Roy, Kathy, Neil, Colin, Mel and so many others, Canada would not be the country we know and love today.

So colleagues, this is why I am glad to stand in support of Private Members Motion M-18 to declare March as Irish Heritage Month, so that an opportunity can be provided to all Canadians to celebrate and learn about the rich and proud history of Canadians of Irish descent – as I did, in writing this speech today.  

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.