Like all foolish young men out late and having fun, I sadly contributed to the occasional act of unsanctioned public urination in my youth. Of course, by “public” I simply mean that it occurred in an outdoor location as private as possible and it was out of desperation when no other alternative was within waddling distance. And of course, I made sure that it wasn’t in Red Square, atop someone’s grave, straddling a bridge over a highway, or in some other inappropriate location.
Others, however, are less discerning in their acts of public peeing. Take for example the case of a 23-year-old man from Montreal who got so drunk he didn’t realize that he had chosen the hallowed grounds of the National War Memorial in Ottawa to relieve himself. Although this certainly falls under the don’t-pee-on-a-grave rule, the inebriated youth compounded his problems with two other factors; he did his sacrilegious peeing on Canada Day and he was photographed while doing so.
This happened exactly a year ago today and since then the guy has apologized to an understandably angry Canadian public.
And now, to deter similar urine mishaps in the future, the Canadian government has installed cameras in the area. The new pee-cams will hopefully scare away urinators and ensure the sanctity of such historic monuments.
So, next time you find yourself in a strange city and feel the urge to unzip, spare a moment to look around and make sure that something historical does not lie at your feet–especially if you’re in Canada on Canada Day.