This is a week for National birthdays, apparently. Today is Canada’s “birthday”.
Canada was originally a bunch of seperate colonies, but on July 1, 1867, the Consitiution Act/British North America Act united three of them into a single country within the British Empire. It was called Dominion Day until 1982, when it was officially renamed Canada Day.
The three colonies joined together were Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Providence of Canada. The Providece of Canada was then divided up into more providences (Ontario and Quebec). Since then the country has changed both in shape of the providence (there are now 10), and their governmental relations with the British Empire (They still are under the Queen, but the UK parliment has no say in their government anymore)
The actual day as a holiday was not started until 1879, but only as a day for local communities to celebrate. Official celebrations started in 1958, although not popularized till the 1980s. It is held on July 1, unless it is a sunday then the legal holiday will be held the following Monday.
So here’s wishing all my Canadian friends a happy Canada Day. Thank you for being a good neighbor.
Sokorra Lewis 