Even though its technically not celebrated in Quebec, today marks the first year of my home province Ontario's initiation of "Family Day," which is essentially a makeshift holiday to make up for the fact that Canadians don't get a President's Day. Alberta's been doing it since 1990, but this year three more provinces joined in on the fun: Ontario, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Oddly enough, the holiday originated in Alberta when Lieutenant Governor Helen Hunley proclaimed the day in response to then Alberta premier Don Getty's son, Dale, being arrested for cocaine possession. The arrest revealed Dale to have a serious cocaine addiction, leading the premier to admit publicly that he "neglected his family" and that it was "important for all Albertans" to take more care of their families.

So thank cocaine addiction for your statutory pay today!