Canada Day
Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada, [faɛ̯t dzy kanadɑ]), formerly known as Dominion Day (French: Fête du Dominion), is the national day of Canada. A federal statutory holiday, it celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation which occurred on July 1, 1867, with the passing of the British North America Act, 1867, when the three separate colonies of the United Canadas, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick were united into a single dominion within the British Empire called Canada.
| Canada Day | |
|---|---|
From top, left to right: Canada Day Fireworks display on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Ontario; a young woman celebrates Canada Day in Toronto, Ontario; a Canada Day parade in Montreal, Quebec; a member of Canada's First Nations with a national flag and Royal Union Flag at Canada Day celebrations in Calgary, Alberta | |
| Also called | Fête du Canada Dominion Day (1879–1982) |
| Observed by | Canada |
| Type | Historical, cultural, national |
| Significance | Anniversary of Canadian Confederation on July 1, 1867 |
| Celebrations | Fireworks, parades, barbecues, concerts, carnivals, fairs, picnics |
| Date | July 1 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | July 1, 1867 |
Originally called Dominion Day (French: Le Jour de la Confédération), the holiday was renamed in 1982, the same year that the Canadian constitution was patriated by the Canada Act, 1982, which severed the vestiges of legal dependence on the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Canada Day celebrations take place throughout the country, as well as in various locations around the world attended by Canadians living abroad.