Draft:The Margraviate of Laidlaw
{{subst:Draft preload/nationpagenew}}
The Margraviate of Laidlaw | |
|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
| |
| Motto: "Non Sine Spe" "Not Beyond Hope" | |
| Anthem: God Save the King | |
 Territories of The Margraviate of Laidlaw | |
| Status | Active |
| Location | Laidlaw, British Columbia, Canada |
| Capital | Exampleville |
| Largest <Hamlet> | <Laidlaw> |
| Ethnic groups (2020) |
|
| Religion (2020) |
|
| Demonym(s) | Laidlawite |
| Government | Local constitutional monarchy dominion |
• Margrave | Jane AB Citizen |
• Burgrave | Jane AB Citizen |
| Legislature | Laidlaw Ratepayer Association |
| Semi-Autonomous from Canada | |
• Independence | 14 November 2021 |
• Constitution drafted | 14 August 2021 |
| Area | |
• Total | 200 km2 (77 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | 3 |
| Population | |
• 2022 estimate | 185 |
• 2020 census | 173 |
| Membership | 21 |
| Currency | Example dollar |
| Time zone | UTC-2 (XST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (XDT) |
| Date format | mm/dd/yyyy |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +1 |
| Internet TLD | .ex |
The Margraviate of Laidlaw, more commonly known as Laidlaw, is a micronation in ((British Columbia, Canada)), formed of necessity during the November 2021 atmospheric river events in British Columbia. When mass wasting closing all access in and out of Laidlaw to the east or west, a semi-autonomous government was established by the Laidlaw Ratepayers Association.
The Margrave is a fictional peer who is the notional head of state for Laidlaw. As Laidlaw is part of the macronation of Canada, the notional peer, and the burghers (residents) of Laidlaw are subjects of the Canadian Crown, King Charles the Third. However, in light of the lack of representation, services, and support to the Laidlaw area by local government, the burgraves who form the Association govern local affairs as a parallel form of government.
Formed on libertarian ideals, the Margraviate and its residents support the micronation movement to enable the self-determination of peoples in order to empower citizens to engage as organized groups with with their macronation governments, as "the world is run by those who show up".
Etymology
Laidlaw is an unincorporated settlement in the Upper Fraser Valley region of British Columbia, Canada, located just west of the westernmost boundary of Hope, British Columbia on the south side of the Fraser River and along the Trans-Canada Highway.
Laidlaw is the base of the only road into Wahleach Lake (commonly known as Jones Lake).
Originally known as St. Elmo, when the Canadian Northern Railway laid two tracks across the farm of W.F. Laidlaw he insisted the station be given his name.
The Margraviate of Laidlaw was formed when Laidlaw became separated from Hope to the east and Chilliwack to the west by mass wasting events during the atmospheric rivers of November 2021. As a margraviate, Laidlaw is a border or frontier area, encompassing the landmass between the narrowing of the Fraser Valley at the FH Barber Provincial Park in the west and just past Hunter Creek in the east. The northern extreme is the Fraser River and the Southern extents are the origins of Hunter and Lorenzetta Creeks and the Jones (Wahleach Lake) watershed.
History
The Margraviate of Laidlaw was formed on November 14, 2021, when Laidlaw became cutoff by landslides. A provisional government was formed by the Laidlaw Ratepayers Association to take control of the incident, and continues to provide leadership and support to Laidlaw residents, including those of the Laidlaw properties that fall within the boundaries of the District of Hope, immediately east of Hunter Creek.
The provisional government was again activated for the September 2022 wildfire, assisting with relief efforts, including evacuation and relocation activities.
Politics and government
The Margraviate of Laidlaw is a parallel form of government established to supplement the Fraser Valley Regional District, the Province of British Columbia, and the Dominion of Canada governments at the local, provincial, and national governments. It is loyal to the Canadian Crown.
Strictly speaking, residents of Laidlaw belong to the Fraser Valley Regional District Electoral Area "B". Locals east of Hunter Creek are actually residents of the District of Hope, and many residents north of the TransCanada Highway in the Ohamil area belong to the Shxw'ow'hamel First Nation, a band government of the Sto:lo People. Colloquially speaking, all are Laidlaw residents, but not all are subjects, or burghers. Only burghers have the right to vote in Association business. Only burgraves or burgravines have the right to stand for office.
Law and order
Law and Order is maintained by primarily by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Laidlaw Ratepayer Association maintains a Community Watch for support purposes, such as presence patrols, reconnaissance, and public events. Emergency services are provided on contract by the RCMP, the District of Hope Fire Department, the FVRD Popkum Fire Department, Hope Search and Rescue, and the BC Ambulance Service.
Foreign relations
The Laidlaw Ratepayers Association has a procedure to stand-to an Emergency Operations Centre in situations requiring liaison with other governments in times of natural disasters (floods and fires). Routine communications are handled by the Laidlaw Ratepayer Association executive.
Military
To supplement the Canadian Armed Forces, an independent guard exists, known as the The Margrave of Laidlaw's Own Loyal Colonial Volunteer Irregulars First Independent Veterans Guard Corps. This yeomanry regiment consists of trained volunteers who parade on November 11 and January 1 each year.
Geography and climate
Geography
Laidlaw is located on the south bank of the Fraser River at the east end of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada on the west coast of North America. Approximately 8km by 1km is flat land formed by sedimentary deposits from the Fraser River and three tributaries in Laidlaw - Hunter Creek, Lorenzetta Creek, and Jones (Wahleach Creek). Laidlaw extends southward in the Cascade Mountain Range past the south end of Jones (Wahleach) Lake, encompassing these watersheds.
Politically, Laidlaw includes portions of the jurisdictions of the local governments of the District of Hope, Fraser Valley Regional District electoral areas B and D, encompasses a portion of the Shxw'ow'hamel First Nation.
Climate
Laidlaw has a temperate climate with significant precipitation, and can be classified as a rain forest. The four seasons are characterized by wind and snow (winter), warm and rainy (spring), hot and dry (summer), and cool and rainy (fall).
| Climate data for Laidlaw | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.5 (58.1) |
18.5 (65.3) |
25.0 (77) |
30.5 (86.9) |
37.5 (99.5) |
35.0 (95) |
38.0 (100.4) |
37.5 (99.5) |
36.5 (97.7) |
28.5 (83.3) |
17.5 (63.5) |
13.5 (56.3) |
38.0 (100.4) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 4.6 (40.3) |
7.5 (45.5) |
11.4 (52.5) |
15.2 (59.4) |
18.5 (65.3) |
21.2 (70.2) |
24.3 (75.7) |
25.0 (77) |
21.3 (70.3) |
14.3 (57.7) |
7.7 (45.9) |
4.2 (39.6) |
14.6 (58.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.2 (36) |
4.2 (39.6) |
7.1 (44.8) |
10.2 (50.4) |
13.6 (56.5) |
16.3 (61.3) |
18.8 (65.8) |
19.3 (66.7) |
16.2 (61.2) |
10.7 (51.3) |
5.4 (41.7) |
2.0 (35.6) |
10.5 (50.9) |
| Average low °C (°F) | -0.3 (31.5) |
0.9 (33.6) |
2.8 (37) |
5.0 (41) |
8.5 (47.3) |
11.1 (52) |
13.1 (55.6) |
13.3 (55.9) |
10.8 (51.4) |
6.9 (44.4) |
3.0 (37.4) |
-0.3 (31.5) |
6.2 (43.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | -17.0 (1.4) |
-18.0 (-0.4) |
-8.5 (16.7) |
-1.5 (29.3) |
0.5 (32.9) |
5.0 (41) |
7.0 (44.6) |
7.5 (45.5) |
3.0 (37.4) |
-10.0 (14) |
-20.5 (-4.9) |
-18.0 (-0.4) |
−20.5 (−4.9) |
| Average Precipitation mm (inches) | 287.6 (11.323) |
194.3 (7.65) |
201.2 (7.921) |
166.6 (6.559) |
131.8 (5.189) |
113.8 (4.48) |
84.7 (3.335) |
64.2 (2.528) |
104.7 (4.122) |
229.6 (9.039) |
352.7 (13.886) |
255.8 (10.071) |
2,186.8 (86.094) |
| Average Rainfall mm (inches) | 262.6 (10.339) |
177.7 (6.996) |
193.5 (7.618) |
165.8 (6.528) |
131.8 (5.189) |
113.8 (4.48) |
84.7 (3.335) |
64.2 (2.528) |
104.7 (4.122) |
228.9 (9.012) |
344.8 (13.575) |
236.2 (9.299) |
2,108.5 (83.012) |
| Average Snowfall cm (inches) | 24.9 (9.8) |
16.6 (6.54) |
7.7 (3.03) |
0.8 (0.31) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.6 (0.24) |
7.9 (3.11) |
19.6 (7.72) |
78.2 (30.79) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 20.7 | 16.7 | 19.9 | 18.0 | 17.1 | 14.5 | 10.5 | 8.8 | 11.2 | 17.5 | 21.2 | 18.0 | 194.2 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 18.2 | 15.2 | 19.5 | 18.0 | 17.1 | 14.5 | 10.5 | 8.8 | 11.2 | 17.4 | 20.7 | 16.0 | 187.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 4.5 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 0.31 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.15 | 1.5 | 3.9 | 14.26 |
| Source: Environment Canada[1] | |||||||||||||
Economy
Laidlaw's economic driver is agriculture, primarily dairy, with resource extraction in the form of gravel and lumber also significant. Remittances form the largest portion of its GDP, as most residents work in nearby communities.
Industry exists in the form of the perpetually unfinished Transmountain Pipeline, an occasionally hostile state sanctioned arm of the Government of Canada.
Culture
The culture of Laidlaw is two-fold; traditional indigenous cultural practices are upheld by the Sto:lo residents of Shxw'ow'hamel First Nation, and settler residents practice European cultural activities, with significant Dutch influence.
Levee is celebrated each year on January 1st, with an open house at the The Margrave of Laidlaw's Own Loyal Colonial Volunteer Irregulars First Independent Veterans Guard Corps Regimental Mess.
All other Canadian and British Columbia Statutory holidays are also observed, with Remembrance Day ceremonies are commemorated at Thompson's Landing.
Local media exists only in the form of a local social media closed page "Laidaw News and Neighbours".
See also
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laidlaw,_British_Columbia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahleach_Lake
External links
https://www.knowbc.com/limited/Books/Encyclopedia-of-BC/L/Laidlaw
https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Laidlaw_Gospel_Chapel_(Laidlaw,_British_Columbia,_Canada)
- ↑ Environment Canada—[1], accessed 5 September 2017