Copyright: canada day

post #10690 post #2824824

July 1 is Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada), the national day of Canada. The federal statutory holiday celebrates the anniversary of the July 1, 1867 enactment of the British North America Act, 1867 (today called the Constitution Act, 1867), which united three British North American colonies into a single "Dominion" within the British Empire. While not independence by itself, this act established Canada as a self-governing entity. From 1867 to 1949, the Dominion of Canada (later simply Canada), would grow to include all former British North American colonies as provinces or territories, and become independent from the United Kingdom. Originally called Dominion Day (French: Fête du Dominion) by itself, the holiday was renamed in 1982, the year the Canada Act was passed.

Canada Day celebrations involve fireworks, parades, carnivals, parties, barbecuing, and special live events such as concerts, commemorative speeches, and citizenship ceremonies where groups of new Canadian citizens are welcomed to the community.