Canada Day And My Canada Days

Canada Day And My Canada Days

“Canada is the only country in the world that knows how to live without an identity.” Marshall McLuhan

by Alex P. Vidal

I celebrated Canada Day (July 1) in British Columbia for two consecutive years in 2010 and 2011. I was impressed with the way Canadians commemorated the date when Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada were united into a single country with parades, fireworks, and festivals. The union, historians say, was a result of the Constitution Act which granted Canada a great deal of independence from England. Over the course of a century, Canada gradually shed its dependence on the United Kingdom. It did not become fully independent until 1982, the same year that Canada day became an official holiday.

In order to fully appreciate other cultures, I had a chance to also assimilate with the Chinese-Canadian, Indo-Canadian, and Polish-Canadian communities in particular. Since I stayed in a predominantly Indian community in Surrey, I became familiar with the Indian culture and was able to meet and interview some of their community leaders.

In most of my visits in downtown Vancouver, I always had a chance to visit the Polish Community Center on Fraser St. My friend, dance expert Christian Cunanan, once brought me in the center which becomes a dance floor at night time during weekend. I also met so many brilliant Chinese-Canadians in Richmond where Chinese restaurants mushroom in every nook and canny.

Settlements

The earliest organized Polish settlements are actually in Ontario, not in British Columbia. It dates back to the early 1860s. The pioneers and their descendants left an important imprint on the Ontarian Landscape, with their beautiful religious landmarks, characteristic method of land cultivation, and unique architectural style and artistry. We learned that much of this precious heritage is being lost through neglect or inadequate identification and documentation. Even in Canada’s oldest Polish settlement in Renfrew Country, this continues to be a serious concern.

According to historians, Canada Day took decades to catch on because many early Canadians identified themselves as British. It was not until Canada’s “golden” anniversary in 1917(50 years), that an official celebration was recorded. The next set of Canada Day festivities did not occur until ten years, in 1927. The Government’s first recognition of the holiday occurred in 1958 with a trooping of the color on Parliament Hill. The first country-wide celebration was in 1967, Canada’s 100^th anniversary. Since then, Canada Day grew and evolved to become the widespread commercial holiday it is today. Canada Day is celebrated with fireworks, concerts, cookouts, and sports games today. Canada’s capital, Ontario, hosts the most holiday activities. There are countless events, activities, and festivals found throughout the city streets, parks, and museums. Fireworks are launched from Parliament Hill to conclude a day of patriotic festivities.

Dominion Day

Formerly known as “Dominion Day,” Canada Day marks the anniversary of the Constitution Act of 1867, joining Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada province (now Ontario and Quebec) into a single country. The Constitution Act granted Canada a substantial amount of independence from England, although complete independence was given in 1982. Prior to 1900, there was little Canadian nationalism as many Canadians regarded themselves as British citizens. The first official celebration was held in 1917 to honor Canada’s 50^th birthday. It was not until 1946 that Phileas Cote, a member of the Quebec House of Commons, sent a private member’s bill to renamed the “National Holiday of Canada.” Since no one agreed on the name, the bill was defeated. The government first recognized Canada Day in 1958 by holding a trooping of the color on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada’s centennial marked the first widespread celebration in 1967. The event promoted nationalism and Canadian pride. The holiday continued to grow in the late 1960s and many Canada Day event were televised and broadcast throughout the country. In the 1980s, the government began funding Canada Day activities in smaller communities. The holiday was finally made official by a unanimous votes on October 27, 1982; the same year that Canada Act was passed, removing any remaining dependence of Canada on the United Kingdom. While the public had recognized the holiday for decades, this marked a significant change in the magnitude of the celebrations.

In addition to independence from the United Kingdom, Canada Day also marks a number of revolutionary breakthroughs and significant events. The first national radio hookup was initiated by the Canadian National Railway on July 1, 1927. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) held its first cross-country broadcast on Canada Day in 1958. The first color television transmission in Canada was held on July 1, 1966. In 1967, the Order of Canada was inaugurated. “O Canada” was also named the official national anthem on Canada Day, 1980. /MP