Patties are a beloved Jamaican staple. They consist of a spicy filling (beef, pork, chicken, now even vegetables) covered in a flaky crust. Delicious and an immutable part of Jamaica’s culture. So imagine the furore that erupted when some Canadian bureaucrats thought it was a good idea to abolish the use of the name ‘patty’ by vendors selling the diet staple.

Toronto’s sizeable Caribbean population took major issue with the probably well-meaning bureaucrats (check out a good synopsis here). Here is the well-meaning bureaucrat, from a newspaper interview:

…CACA food specialist Peter Haidle about the regulations governing patties. He seemed especially peeved by the low protein content in the crust of the offending patties. His defence of the crackdown was stereotypically bureaucratic: “When you have a standard, you have to comply with it or the whole system breaks down.” To prevent the utter destruction of the Canadian food chain, Haidle suggested snappy new names like “Caribbean-style beef pies.” He wasn’t without mercy—his department would allow vendors to use up their remaining stock of bags and other packaging bearing the offending wording…

The issue leapt onto the national stage, with no less than former provincial Liberal leader David Peterson getting involved. It was eventually resolved in the pattys’ favour. I learned about this last night at a book launch, held by the Canadian High Commissioner, the Honourable Robert Ready, who hosted the event for the authors, a pair of Caribbean scholars who work at York University.

In addition to this delightful story, we also learned about Jamaica’s sizeable immigrant community in Canada (about 240,000 according to the 2006 census, but probably closer to 300,000 now) and the impact it has had on the nation. The book, titled “Jamaican-Canadians Role in Strengthening Democracy and Promoting Human Rights” was co-written by Professors Andrea Davis and Carl James. Interestingly, Dr. James noted that given Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s recent initiative to eliminate the long-form census, it is “even more difficult” for researchers to locate the information they need to conduct research.

Dr. James also spoke of Canada’s famed policies that encourage multi-culturalism and its membership in the Commonwealth as having encouraged a wave of Jamaican immigration starting in the 1950s. As a result, Dr. Davis told us, Jamaicans emerged from being labourers to fundamental participants in Canadian society.

It was an informative and enjoyable evening at which we also got to look around the Canadian High Commission’s grounds a bit. It is a large house surrounded by gorgeous landscaping and high walls and a security guard, of course. There is also a pool and a large area with a bar for entertaining. Sorry the pictures are dark!