CANADA’S NATIONAL HOLIDAY

“Canada Day” is Canada’s National holiday which marks the formation of the country on July 1, 1867 and celebrates the independence of Canada from the United Kingdom.

A long time ago, Canada belonged to Great Britain. On July 1, 1867, the British Government (under Queen Victoria) approved a plan called: “BNA (British North America)” which allowed Canada to become an independent country whose parts of the country joined together and formed their own government.

This new nation, which remained loyal to Britain was known as The Dominion of Canada with only four provinces (Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick).

These days, Canada is a federal state with 10 provinces and 3 territories whose political powers are divided among the Central Government and all Provincial Governments. Canada is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations (associaton of different political entities which offer voluntary a fair to The British Crown.

Canada borders on the Artic Ocean at North, on the Atlantic Ocean at East, on United States at South and on the Pacific Ocean and Alaska westward.

Its capital is Ottawa and all country is bilingual and multicultural, with both English and French as official languages at federal level.

Canada day is a holiday which was formally established by statute in 1879 and was originally called Dominion Day which was first used to describe a political union within the British Empire for Canada. The name was officially changed to Canada Day on October 27, 1982.

No official celebrations were held on July 1 from confederation until 1917, the 100 hundredth Anniversary of Confederation, and then none again until ten years later (1927).

After 1980, the Canadian Government began to promote the celebration of Dominion Day. This National holiday is celebrated with family picnics, barbecues and fireworks.

Cristina García