The Monarchy of Canada is at the very core of both Canada's federal structure and Westminster-style of parliamentary and constitutional democracy. The monarchy is the foundation of the executive (Queen-in-Council), legislature (Queen-in-Parliament), and judiciary (Queen-on-the-Bench) in the federal and each provincial jurisdiction. The Canadian sovereign is the personification of the Canadian state and, as a matter of constitutional law, is Canada. The current Canadian monarch, since 6 February 1952, is Queen Elizabeth II.
Our conversation at our weekly Tuesday meeting was all about the fascinating College Football National Championship Game with Clemson knocking off Alabama, 35-31. Everybody had a thought about the thriller except Bob, our 85 year old Navy veteran. He told me he watched the NHL Network regular season game between the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens, instead. His mother's brother had a son who played on the great Montreal teams of the 1940's and 50's. Although he never had the privilege of meeting his cousin Floyd Curry, he had spent countless hours following his favorite team.
On Oct. 29, 1951 -- with then Princess Elizabeth and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh in attendance -- Curry scored three goals in a 6-1 Habs' victory over the New York Rangers. The Princess, who'd be crowned queen the following year, was in the midst of her first royal tour and left The Forum under the impression "Busher" Curry was the best hockey player in the world.
Floyd Curry was a good role player who had the good fortune to play with the Montreal Canadiens during their golden age -- he earned four Stanley Cup rings with Les Glorieux from 1947 to 1958 -- but the numbers -- 105 goals, 99 assists in 601 games -- don't exactly announce stardom.
Queen Elizabeth paid no attention to Jean Beliveau, Maurice "Rocket" Richard, Henri Richard, Dickie Moore or Guy Lafleur. She didn't return to Canada to watch a hockey game until 2002 when the San Jose Sharks played the Vancouver Canucks. All the Queen could talk about was Floyd " Busher" Curry, and how those silly Montreal Canadiens' fans had thrown their hats on the ice.
Paul Murphy
Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy
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