Wolfe and Montcalm

Je me souviens reads the National Assembly of Quebec just below two life-size statutes of General Wolfe and the General Montcalm, who were both killed on the Plains of Abraham at the Battle of Quebec 250 years ago today. That both of these men, not just Montcalm, are given central place above the main doors of the Assembly is telling.


Despite the hotheaded comments of some Quebec nationalists, the anniversary passed respectfully enough and went by calme comme Montcalm. Whilst most Quebeckers naturally don't view Wolfe as "the hero of Quebec", they do respect him probably as much, if not more, than English-speaking Canadians, who can't even be bothered to remember much of their nation's own history.

The Wolfe Montcalm story has always been central theatre to the identity and vision of French-speaking Quebec inside Canada, the idea that the country was really founded by two European peoples - British and French. It's a vision frustrated by political and historical reality, however, for constitutionally speaking, Canada is a confederation of ten provinces, not two peoples. The initial union between Lower and Upper Canada in the 1840s lent some credence to this historical vision, but then two became four in 1867, and by 1949 four had become ten with the inclusion of Newfoundland. Quebec's relative power has diminished over time, it never aspired to be a mere province in the first place, and does not really accept the notion that Canada is a nation or a people - a state, yes, but not a nation.

There is considerable merit to this belief, for the embryonic British nation set in motion in North America by General Wolfe 250 years ago has largely wiped away the old heraldry. The Maple Leaf flag is remarkable for its boldness, cleanliness and distinctiveness, for its deliberate excising of the past. There is no Je Me Souviens in Canada.