Cool your jets, Ayn Rand fans! I’m not talking about that John Galt.
This John Galt was a Scottish novelist who spent some time in Canada doing various administrative duties before being recalled for incompetence. The city of Galt (now part of Cambridge) is named after him, and he’s credited with the ceremonious “founding” of the city of Guelph in 1827. He tells the story in his autobiography, and it involved chopping down a tree and then having a drink. Since 2007 Guelph has celebrated the first Monday in August as John Galt Day. And before you ask if it’s a holiday, it was already a civic holiday anyway. Canadians love their days off!
Book: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Canadian History by Ann Douglas
Alex Good 