HAPPY

This July 1 marks Canada’s 134^th birthday, and through the 34 years since the celebrations of the country’s 100^th birthday in 1967, the day has grown in importance.

In 1967 the centennial celebration attracted attention largely because of Expo ’67 in Montreal.

Canada Day is now celebrated in every region of the country: in national ceremonies on Parliament Hill, in provincial capitals and in communities from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic.

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Elinor Caplan hopes that large numbers of Canadians will reaffirm their citizenship.

“What better time to renew our commitment to Canada than on Canada Day?” Caplan says. “Taking the oath of citizenship is a very moving experience, and most Canadians who were born here have never had the opportunity to take the oath.”

                      Citizenship Oath

I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful
and bear true allegiance
to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second,
Queen of Canada,
Her Heirs and Successors,
and that I will faithfully observe
the laws of Canada
and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.

Brief History

Before 1982 Canada Day had been known as Dominion Day, First of July,

Confederation Day, and July the First.

Canada Day celebrates the events that occurred on July 1, 1867, when the British

North America Act created the Canadian federal government. The BNA Act proclaimed “one Dominion under the name of Canada,” hence the original title of the holiday, “Dominion Day.”

Dominion Day was officially renamed “Canada Day” by an Act of Parliament on October 27, 1982. This change reflected the policy of successive governments to down play Canada’s colonial origins.

For History of Canada, please check out this comprehensive site:
http://www.ualberta.ca/~bleeck/canada/canhist.html