On July 1st, we all gather to celebrate Canada Day. Let’s take a look at the history behind the day.
The British North America (BNA) act led to the creation of Canada on July 1st, 1867. This act united three of five British North American colonies (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada) into one federal state (UK Parliament). The Province of Canada included both Quebec and Ontario. The BNA act established the division of powers between the Federal and Provincial Governments. This act was critical for the initiation of federalism in Canada and is still relevant today.
In June 1868, Governor General Lord Monck formally signed a proclamation that stated all of Her Majesty’s subjects across Canada must celebrate the creation of Canada on July 1st. This celebration was known as Dominion Day since Canada was declared a self-dependent dominion. The word ‘dominion’ originates from Latin and means ruled. The term was used by the British to describe their colonies. Initially, the Fathers of Confederation wished to call their new country the ‘Kingdom of Canada.’
However, they were wary that the imperial term would offend the Americans and didn’t wish for a repetition of the atrocious American Civil War. The Fathers of Confederation were a group of thirty-six men who represented British North American colonies at the conferences and were instrumental to the establishment of the Dominion of Canada.
In May 1869, a bill to make Dominion Day a public holiday failed to pass in parliament. Eventually passed in 1879, Dominion Day was celebrated similarly to how Canada day is celebrated today, with parades, pageants, and fireworks as the day’s main highlight. Dominion Day was a means for Canadians to display their dreams and hopes for the nation proudly. It was also an opportunity for marginalized communities to express their discontent.
For example, in the mid-1920s, members of the Chinese community in British Columbia assembled and protested Dominion Day with their event: ‘Chinese Humiliation Day.’ A day in response to recent legislation that blocked Chinese immigration from Canada.
In 1967 to celebrate the centennial of the creation of Canada, there was an attempt to reinvent what it means to be Canadian where Indigenous members performed. Unfortunately, they often fit the portrayal of assimilation- the non-acceptance of one’s culture, rather than integration, which involves the acceptance of both cultures.
In 1982, Canada achieved independence, and Dominion Day was renamed Canada Day. After this, the representation of Indigenous people gradually shifted and celebrating rather than assimilating Indigenous culture was adopted throughout the nation.
Recently, Canada day has been controversial after a thousand unmarked graves, primarily children, were discovered at former residential schools in BC and Saskatchewan in 2021. Approximately 150,000 Indigenous children were sent to residential schools to rid them of their Indigenous roots. In an attempt to honour the victims of this tragedy, thousands wear orange and use the hashtag #cancelcanadaday. Orange is now a symbol of the acknowledgment of the victims of the residential school systems. Organizers of Cancel Canada day 2022 argue that Canada Day should get used as a reflection of Canada’s horrific colonial past rather than as a day of celebrations. Critics of Canada day say that these recent discoveries have led to a loss of ideology of what it means to be Canadian.
On the other side, some people argue that Canada day should continue to be celebrated and can even be used as an opportunity to educate citizens. We can focus on what makes Canada such a great nation and remember to educate ourselves continually.