God Save The Queen...

[proud_ionian]

source: The Province

Queen's portrait returns to B.C. Ferries fleet

The Queen is saved.

After a day of public outrage, B.C. Ferries agreed yesterday to return portraits of Queen Elizabeth to seven ferries in the fleet.

The portraits had been removed from the forward lounges of two Spirit-class and five C-class ferries over the past five years following refits.

"We got a strong response to the media reports and we are listening to our customers," said B.C. Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall.

The response included hundreds of e-mails and phone calls from people mobilized by the Monarchist League of Canada.

The decision to remove the portraits was made at the time B.C. Ferries evolved from a Crown

corporation into a privately run company independent of government.

Marshall said the removal of the portraits was intended as a "symbol of us not being part of the government any more" and was not meant to be disrespectful to the Queen. The Queen is Canada's head of state.

Keith Roy, chairman of the Vancouver branch of the Monarchist League, said when he learned of B.C. Ferries' action, he started a grassroots protest among league members.

"We mobilized our membership across Canada," he said.

"B.C. Ferries' argument just didn't hold. They are part of the national highway system and I think they were caught off guard by the reaction."

Roy said a B.C. Ferries manager told him the decision to reinstate the portraits came directly from Ferries boss David Hahn, an American.

The image of the Queen is on the $20 bill, but no other Canadian banknote. Only older post offices carry her photo these days.

The requirement that the Queen's portrait be displayed in every school was quietly dropped from B.C.'s School Act several years ago.

Likewise, the singing of "O Canada" at school assemblies is enshrined in law, but students no longer have to sing "God Save The Queen."

Marshall said the Queen's portrait will be hung in all new ferries as they come on line.

She said replacements will need to found because some of the removed portraits have been lost.