Canada Day is celebrated every year on July 1st to commemorate the birth of Canada as a country. It marks the day in 1867 when the British North America Act came into effect, joining three colonies — Province of Canada (which became Ontario and Quebec), New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia — into a new federation called the Dominion of Canada. This event is known as Confederation.
Originally called Dominion Day, July 1st was a day to recognize Canada’s creation and the beginning of its journey toward becoming a self-governing nation. Over time, Canada continued to grow, with new provinces and territories joining Confederation and the country developing its own identity.
In 1982, the holiday was officially renamed Canada Day when the Canada Act 1982 brought Canada’s Constitution fully under Canadian control.
Today, Canada Day is a time to celebrate the country’s history, diversity, and shared values. It is marked by ceremonies, citizenship celebrations, concerts, community gatherings, fireworks, and expressions of pride in being Canadian.
At the same time, many Canadians use the day as an opportunity for reflection and reconciliation, recognizing that Canada’s history includes the experiences and contributions of First Nations peoples, Inuit, and Métis peoples, as well as the challenges created by colonization and past injustices.
Some people celebrate this day by attending a Pow Wow in recognition of our shared responsibility to forge a country mindful of its responsibility to create harmonious relationships with the Indigenous peoples of this land.
Canada Day is celebrated close to July 4th (Independence Day in the United States) because the two dates come from two separate historical events that happened around the same time period, not because one was created in relation to the other.
So, while the celebrations happen only three days apart, they represent different paths to nationhood: one through revolution and independence, the other through federation and political evolution.
On July 1st, I will proudly sing “O Canada, Glorious and Free” and “we stand on Guard for thee”, for it is so necessary in these days of chaos and land grabbing, to be ever vigilant and mindful that we ARE two independent nations with common values and rich connections that bring us together as having the potential of being true neighbours.
-Sister Kathleen Lichti, csj
image: Hermes Rivera/Hudson Thomas courtesy of Unsplash
