THUNDER BAY — The New Year’s Day levee is one of Canada’s oldest traditions.
Brought from Europe to the colonies, it was a chance for government and military leaders to gather and deliver a state of the community address, while looking forward to the year ahead.
It’s a tradition that has carried on since the mid-1600s in what would later become Canada, and one that was alive and well on Wednesday at HMCS Griffon headquarters on Algoma Street.
Lt.-Cmdr. Farley Farn, the Griffon’s new commanding officer, said the levee is something to look forward to every year, rooted in the military history of a young nation centuries before it became a country of its own.
“The French governor of New France, started the tradition on New Year’s where he would meet with the population, where they would reaffirm their commitment to the government and he could reaffirm the government’s commitment to its citizens,” Farn said.
“This, over the years, has been carried on by the governor general and lieutenant governors of the provinces, as a way for them to bring new year’s wishes to their citizenship and their citizens can meet with the government at the beginning of the year. This is carried on down through to military organizations as well.”
The ceremony came with the traditional toast to the King and well wishes for everyone in attendance and the community at large for 2025.
It’s great to keep traditions like the levee alive, Farn said.
“I never really thought about it much as a tradition growing up as a child. Then, after growing up and joining the military, I thought this is an interesting tradition. It’s a way for the government representatives to meet with their citizenry and wish them the best in the new year,” Farn said.
NDP MPP Lise Vaugeois, one of two politicians on hand, along with Liberal MP Marcus Powlowski, said the tradition of the levee has been one of the highlights of her first term in office.
“It’s a lovely tradition,” she said.
“I think that in the ordinary walks of life of people, they’re not always aware of the military. It’s an important tradition because it brings that awareness it makes sure that people like myself, that are representatives, are also aware of all these things that are going on in the background that are very important to the security of our country.”
Not on hand were Conservative MPP Kevin Holland and Liberal MP and cabinet minister Patty Hajdu.
