Fast Facts About Canada Day
Canada Day is a federal statutory holiday celebrated nation wide in Canada, every July 1st. This celebration is enacted on July 1, 1867 when Canada signed the Constitution Act to mark its “Independence Day” or separation from the British Parliament and becoming its own new, self-governing federation. Canada Day
Families and friends take advantage of this day to gather around and enjoy it as a holiday by doing picnics, barbecues, camping, and many other outdoor activities as it falls on the summer. The skies are also lit up with fireworks on many public places to entertain the crowd.
Fast Facts:
July 1, 1867: The British North America Act (today known as the Constitution Act, 1867) created Canada.
June 20, 1868: Governor General Lord Monck signs a proclamation that requests all Her Majesty’s subjects across Canada to celebrate July 1.
1879: A federal law makes July 1 a statutory holiday as the “anniversary of Confederation,” which is later called “Dominion Day.”
July 1, 1980 “O Canada” officially became Canada’s national anthem. October 27, 1982: July 1, “Dominion Day” officially becomes Canada Day.
July 1, 1967: The 100th anniversary of Confederation. Parliament Hill is the backdrop for a high-profile ceremony, which includes the participation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Canada Day 2021: 154th Canada Day
Canada Day 2021was cancelled as an atonement and a day of mourning to a dark part of Canada’s history where in aboriginal children were taken from their families and sent to residential schools in an attempt to erase their cultural heritage, only to find their remains and unmarked graves beneath the said residential schools years later.
It is truly a heartbreaking and no amount of regret and grief, nor justification can make up to the lost lives, but we must come together to build a stronger and inclusive future to make sure no such things happens again. While we cannot change the past, we can learn from it and together we can make a better Canada where everyone is free to live a life they want to celebrate.
We honour the lives lost in this dark past, gone but will be never forgotten now.
