SOURIS, Manitoba, Canada–A credit union here has attracted some notoriety in Canada after posting a tongue-in-cheek sign about Victoria Day, which is being celebrated in Canada today. The day is a federal Canadian public holiday that celebrates Queen Victoria’s birthday.
Souris Credit Union posted a sign in its front window which it noted that the credit union will be closed on May 23 for the holiday, which is about “celebrating a British monarch that has been deceased since January 22, 1901.”
“It’s not intended to offend anyone or insult the monarchy,” the CU’s general manager, Paul MacNeil, told The Guardian. “It’s just a joke. We’re not against celebrating Victoria Day. It’s just me having some fun and it’s meant purely to be tongue in cheek.”
The sign goes on to note, “We will re-open on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 as no other country’s deceased royalty are honoured that day.”
According to the Guardian, the sign has garnered some attention in the community since it was posted.
MacNeill was quoted by The Guardian as saying the response has been positive to date.
“We haven’t had any complaints, but we’ve actually had a few people joke and laugh after seeing it,” MacNeill was quoted as saying. “I think it’s pretty hard to offend a queen who’s been deceased for more than 100 years. It’s not meant to be insulting.”