by Trent Lorcher

Created on: June 24, 2008   Last Updated: February 24, 2011

On July 1, Canadians celebrate their nation's birthday. On that day in 1867, the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario formed a federation of four provinces. Because Canada's complete independence from Great Britain happened gradually, Canada Day differs from Independence Day celebrations in other countries insomuch that July 1 does not mark a clear cut day of independence.

Governor General Lord Monck issued a royal proclamation calling for a celebration commemorating the first anniversary of the federation in 1868. Although the holiday became official in 1879, no official celebrations were held until 1917, the 50th anniversary of the federation. Ten more years passed before the next official celebration occurred.

Because the inhabitants of Canada did not consider themselves distinctly Canadian and identified themselves more with Great Britain, Canada Day, or Dominion Day as it was initially called, often went unnoticed until after World War II. Beginning in 1958, officially organized Dominion Day activities became commonplace each July 1. Ceremonies generally consisted of a flag raising ceremony, a mass band concert, and fireworks displays. Canada's Centennial celebration in 1967 made Dominion Day popular with average Canadians and helped solidify a true Canadian identity. In 1980, the federal government began providing grants to cities across Canada to promote Dominion Day activities and celebrations.

The Canada Act, in addition to dissolving political ties with Great Britain in 1982, changed the official name of the July 1 celebration to Canada Day, although many citizens had informally called it that for years.

The Canadian government has commemorated Dominion Day and Canada day by scheduling nationally historic events on July 1. These include CBC's first national broadcast in 1958 and the first color television broadcast in 1966, the flooding of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1958, and the establishment of "O Canada" as the country's national anthem in 1980.

The holiday coincidentally serves as the anniversary for the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and is recognized as Memorial Day in Newfoundland and Labrador in honor of fallen soldiers. On July 1, 1923, Canada passed the Chinese Immigration Act causing the Chinese to refer to the date as Humiliation Day until the act was repealed in 1947.

Modern Canada Day celebrations include parades, barbecues, carnivals, festivals, free concerts, and fireworks. Ottawa, Canada's capital, hosts a massive swearing in ceremony for new Canadian citizens, a large concert presided over by the governor general, and an enormous fireworks display.

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