“Remembering our past, embracing our future.”
That’s the motto the Royal Canadian Legion is proposing for the Yukon, after a panel of judges picked it from 150 anonymous submissions.
If accepted, it will be officially unveiled on Canada Day 2017, for the country’s 150th anniversary.
“I am truly honoured to play a small role in Yukon’s continuing history,” said Darcy Grossinger, whose submission was chosen.
The Whitehorse branch of the Legion launched the contest to pick a motto in February.
The motto has yet to be approved by the Yukon Legislative Assembly.
On Wednesday the House passed a motion that called for consultation with Yukon First Nations, municipalities and citizens.
Once approved, the motto will be translated to Latin and sent to Ottawa for final approval.
Independent MLA David Laxton sought to have the House adopt the motto immediately on Wednesday, but Community Services Minister Currie Dixon amended it to include the consultation.
A number of “prominent Yukoners” made up the panel of judges that picked the motto.
Grossinger said it was a “spur of the moment thing.”
He was at the Legion when the topic of the contest came up.
He grabbed a form, thought about it, and submitted his idea.
“We’re surrounded by history, more so than other territories and provinces,” he said about the motto.
The second part was added to be uplifting - looking ahead.
The Yukon and the Northwest Territories are currently the only Canadian jurisdictions without a motto.
It was also the Legion that, back in 1967, started a contest that led to the territory’s current flag being chosen.