Today, the second Monday in March, is officially Commonwealth Day and why it still matters.
In 1958, what was known as Empire Day was renamed Commonwealth Day, in accordance with the post-colonial relationship between the nations of the former empire.
It was the National Council of the Royal Commonwealth Society of Canada that suggested the idea that Commonwealth Day should be observed on the same day throughout the U.K. and the other 56 countries of the Commonwealth. Observed by the member states of the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth Day is a celebration that is held on the second Monday of March to recognize the work of Commonwealth members and to promote understanding and cooperation on global issues.
In Canada, in 1973, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was in power and he and, then Commonwealth Secretary-General, Arnold Smith, designed the Commonwealth flag. In 1976, the recommendation and flag were presented at a meeting held in in Canberra, Australia and senior officials from throughout the Commonwealth countries officially declared that the Canadian proposal of the second Monday in March was to be adopted as Commonwealth Day.
In Canada, the Royal Union flag (Union Jack) is flown at most Federal buildings, airports and military bases in recognition of the day.
In England, on Commonwealth Day, past Queen Elizabeth delivered her special message and a ‘multi-faith’ service was held at Westminster Abbey, that was initiated at Her insistence. This year, King Charles III also delivered a message with the theme, ‘Unlocking Opportunities Together for a Prosperous Commonwealth’ …
“We join together on this Commonwealth Day at a time of great challenge and great possibility. Across our world, communities and nations face the increasing pressures of conflict, climate change and rapid transformation. Yet it is often in such testing moments that the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth is most clearly revealed.
Ours is a remarkable association that spans every ocean and continent. Embracing an extraordinary diversity of culture, language and faith, our Commonwealth family is united by shared values of justice, democracy, opportunity, compassion and mutual respect. In a world that can feel increasingly fragmented, this voluntary union of free association remains rare and precious – a forum for open and honest discussion and debate to help improve the lives of the nearly three billion people who call our member states home.
Our Commonwealth of Nations holds untapped potential for prosperous trade between trusting partners. With nearly two-thirds of our population under the age of thirty, we are a family defined by youth and possibility. It is our shared responsibility to ensure that they inherit not only hope and ambition, but also a world in which they can flourish.
That inheritance depends upon the health of our planet and on the restoration of the natural world on which we depend. Across so many parts of our Commonwealth, climate change is not an abstract or distant threat, but a lived reality. The stewardship of nature, the protection of oceans and forests, and the pursuit of prosperity secured in harmony with the natural world are duties we owe not only to one another, but to generations yet unborn.
As we look ahead to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda later this year, we are reminded that the great gatherings of our nations are strengthened by the daily endeavours of their people. What distinguishes the Commonwealth is not only what our governments resolve together, but what our people do each day in countless acts of service, enterprise and creativity. When leaders meet, they do so on behalf of millions whose quiet determination, resilience and generosity give true meaning to our shared endeavour.
Working together, we can ensure that the Commonwealth continues to stand as a force for good – grounded in community, committed to the kind of restorative sustainability that has a return on investment, enriched by culture, steadfast in its care for our planet, and united in friendship and in the service of its people.”
