On
Canada Day (each year on July 1st),
we pause to reflect not only on our history, but on the values that continue to
shape our collective identity: inclusion, resilience and a commitment to
progress.
From
the ancestral knowledge of the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded these
lands for millennia, to the aspirations of newcomers building futures in cities
and communities across the country, Canada's strength lies in its diversity. It
is in the tireless work of educators, healthcare workers, scientists, artists and everyday citizens who strive to build a more just, sustainable and united
society.
Today
is not only a celebration of past achievements, but also a call to action – a
friendly reminder that citizenship demands courage, empathy and engagement.
We are stewards of a nation still growing into its full promise and the choices we make together will shape the next chapter.
We are stewards of a nation still growing into its full promise and the choices we make together will shape the next chapter.
May this Canada
Day renew our shared purpose and inspire us to build a future worthy of our
highest ideals!
● Historic background info:
On July 1, 1867, the nation was officially born when the “Constitution Act” joined three provinces into one country: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Canada province, which then split into Ontario and Quebec. However, Canada was not completely independent of England until 1982. The holiday called “Dominion Day” was officially established in 1879, but it wasn't observed by many Canadians, who considered themselves to be British citizens.
“Dominion Day” started to catch on when the 50th anniversary of the confederation rolled around, in 1917. In 1946, a bill was put forth to rename “Dominion Day”, but arguments in the House of Commons over what to call the holiday stalled the bill.
The 100th anniversary of the nation's official creation in 1967 saw the growth of the spirit of Canadian patriotism, and “Dominion Day” celebrations really began to take off. Although quite a few Canadians already called the holiday “Canada Day” (“Fête du Canada”), the new name wasn't formally adopted until October of 1982.
NOTE: Dear readers, please be advised that on this website each of the previous postings, pertaining to the recurrent annual themes, portray a different perspective of the subject/s presented (same theme/s, but a different outlook without duplication due to the cultural richness of the specific topic/s discussed).
