This weekend we c
elebrate the birth of Canada. Yes, it’s Canada Day. Canada Day? Are you kidding me? Could there be a more bland name for the anniversary of a nation’s founding? That would be like calling Independence Day (or the 4th of July) ‘America Day.’ It doesn’t have any balls! But ‘Dominion Day’ uses an unusual word to mark a special day. It’s got character! A quick history of Dominion Day …
On July 1, 1867, the Dominion of Canada was formed when Ontario and Quebec (both parts of the former Province of Canada) joined Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in a federation. The following year, the Governor-General (Lord Monck) called upon all Her Majesty’s loving subjects throughout Canada to celebrate the first anniversary of Confederation. In 1879 the name ‘Dominion Day’ was enshrined in law, but there wasn’t much in the way of official celebrations for the next few decades.
There was a big official celebration of Dominion Day in 1917, for the 50th Anniversary of Confederation. Another big event was the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation in 1927. Dominion Day continued to be a rather low-key statutory holiday until the late 1950’s.
Things ramped up in 1967 for Canada’s Centennial, with the Queen in attendance for the ceremonies on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Since then, there have been official celebrations of Dominion Day every year. In 1982, the glorious ‘Dominion Day’ was changed to the drab, unexciting ‘Canada Day.’
By the way, the official name of the country is still the ‘Dominion of Canada’, although the Dominion part has fallen out of use. It would take a Constitutional amendment to change the name.
The first ‘official’ long weekend of the summer includes fireworks, family gatherings, the big celebrations on Parliament Hill, and (hopefully) lots of good weather. But it’s still Canada Day.
Give us back our Dominion Day!
pablospages 
Wow! I didn’t know all that history about Canada Day! Very cool entry, and I look forward to reading more!
Thnaks for reading this! I’ll try to keep up to your exacting standards.
Are you one of the skydivers in the photo, Pablo? Ultra-cool!
I wish! Of course, I’d have to conquer my ‘fear’ of heights first.
Dominion Day indeed. Has a nice ring to it. I am proud to hail from The Canada (which is what the ladies in The Hand call The Northland. Long story, which I will happily share later).