Canada Day

Canadian National holiday, celebrated on July 1, marks the anniversary of the unification of Upper and Lower Canada (what are now Ontario and Quebec), New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as the Dominion of Canada. This union was effected by passage on July 1, 1867, of the British North America Act.

It was established by statute in 1879, under the name Dominion Day. It is a commemoration of the day in 1867 that the first colonies of British North America entered Confederation as the Dominion of Canada. Other names used in the past for Canada Day include: First of July, July the First, Confederation Day, and Dominion Day. On October 27, 1982, July 1st, then known as "Dominion Day", was decreed by Parliament to be known as "Canada Day".

Formerly known as Dominion Day, the name was changed to Canada Day in 1982 when the constitution was revised. The day is marked throughout Canada by parades, fireworks and the display of flags.