"QUEBEC MARKS FIRST PATRIOTES DAY," ST. CATHARINES STANDARD  (MAY 20, 2003).

Copyright St. Catharines Standard 2003

MONTREAL - While English Canada marked the arrival of summer by celebrating Victoria Day, Quebec formally marked National Patriotes Day on Monday for the first time.

About 50 supporters carrying the red, white and green flag of the Patriotes marched through Old Montreal expressing their support for an independent, French Quebec.

"FLQ, FLQ," some shouted in reference to the Front de liberation du Quebec, whose terrorist bombings prompted former prime minister Pierre Trudeau to invoke the War Measures Act.

The former Parti Quebecois government last fall renamed the statutory holiday to honour the rebellion against the British in 1837.

Critics have claimed the PQ was rewriting history by attempting to link the fight for responsible government with Quebec nationalism. A similar rebellion also took place in Upper Canada.

The May long weekend was previously known in the province as la Fete du Dollard in honour of the 17th century soldier Adam Dollard Des Ormeaux.

Former premier Bernard Landry welcomed the new holiday by unveiling a statue of Louis-Joseph Papineau in St-Denis-sur- Richelieu, about 50 kilometres southwest of Montreal.

He said the holiday honours the patriotes who fought 160 years ago for the "civic, political and democratic emancipation of our nation."

"It's a very important day in Quebec's history and in Canadian history," he said.