by Trent Lorcher

Created on: June 26, 2008   Last Updated: December 11, 2008

With flags, parades, barbecues, and fireworks, Canadians celebrate their national holiday much like others celebrate theirs. The outward resemblance in the manner of celebration, however, belies the uniqueness of the Canadian holiday, a uniqueness conveyed by the following Canada Day facts:

A PEACEFUL INDEPENDENCE

July 1 does not mark Canada's independence from foreign rule, nor does it commemorate a specific war or battle. Canada's independence came peacefully and gradually. Although autonomous for over 100 years, Canada did not completely dissolve political ties with Great Britain until 1982, with the passage of The Canada Act.

DOMINION DAY

The original name of Canada Day was Dominion Day. The British North America Act of 1867 called the four united eastern provinces, "One Dominion under the name of Canada." With the passage of The Canada Act in 1982, Dominion Day was officially changed to Canada Day, although many citizens had already called it that for years.

AN UNCELEBRATED HOLIDAY

Nobody celebrated Dominion Day for nearly fifty years. Because Canadians still identified themselves as British, they felt no need to observe the formation of a new nation. The governor General officially recognized the one-year anniversary of the federation in 1868. The next official observance took place in 1917, and ten more years passed before the next observance. It wasn't until 1958 that Canada Day celebrations became widespread.

MORE THAN JUST A HOLIDAY

Many culturally significant events occurred on Canada Day. July 1, 1927 marked Canada's first coast-to-coast radio broadcast. On July 1, 1958, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation provided Canada with its first national telecast, and in 1966, the CBC made its first national telecast in color. Also in 1958, workers flooded the St. Lawrence Seaway, creating Lake St. Lawrence and wiping out 10 villages. On July 1 1980, Canada officially adopted "O Canada" as its national anthem.

HUMILIATION DAY

Canada passed the Chinese Immigration Act on Canada Day, 1923, officially banning Chinese, and those of Chinese descent from entering the country. Chinese-Canadians refused to participate in July 1 festivities, referring to it as Humiliation Day, until July 1, 1947, when the act was repealed.

MEMORIAL DAY

The provinces of Labrador and Newfoundland also celebrate Memorial day on July 1 to commemorate soldiers who died during the Battle of the Sonne, World War I's bloodiest offensive, which began on July 1, 1916.

MOVING DAY

In Quebec, July 1 is also Moving Day. Because Quebec law prevents landlords from evicting tenants during the winter months, many leases run out on July 1. Approximately 120,000 Quebecois move every year on that day.

A DAY FIT FOR A QUEEN

Every now and then the Queen of England shows up. Queen Elizabeth II commemorated the centennial anniversary of Dominion Day in 1967 with a speech on Parliament Hill. The queen also appeared in 1982, the year July 1 became officially recognized as Canada Day. The queen's presence highlights the peaceful course of Canadian independence and its amiable ties with its former monarch.

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