The Anniversary Compulsion: Canada's Centennial Celebrations, a Model Mega-Anniversary
Description
Contains Photos, Illustrations, Bibliography, Index
$18.99
ISBN 1-55002-185-0
DDC 394.2'68471
Author
Publisher
Year
Contributor
H. Graham Rawlinson teaches history at York University in Toronto.
Review
This book is part memoir, part political history, part sociology lesson,
and part handbook. It is also an extended meditation on why citizens and
governments feel the need to mark anniversaries.
Aykroyd uses Canada’s centennial celebrations of 1967 as a case study
for his analysis of what makes for a successful anniversary celebration.
Formerly the Centennial Commission’s Director of Public Relations and
now a “mega-anniversary” consultant, he is well qualified to do so.
His discussion centres on his own “Anniversary Axiomatique,” a set
of 10 “rules for anniversary planners” that draws upon an analysis
of the successes and failures of the 1967 festivities. Noting that
history and community are the real touchstones of a worthwhile
anniversary, Aykroyd guides the reader through the planning and
personalities behind the centennial.
The story of how and why Canadians came to celebrate the 100th
anniversary of Confederation fills a gap in our knowledge of Canadian
political history. Yet historians will be disappointed that much of the
story is left out. While Aykroyd supplemented his memory with some
archival research, his account is more personal than historical.
Nevertheless, this is a thoughtful and enjoyable contribution to
Canadian studies, one that ideally will spur further work in its many
subjects.