June 30 and July 1st
- Canada celebrates its 145th birthday this July 1st.
- July 1, 1867, Canada became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain and was made up of four provinces: Nova Scotia; New Brunswick; Ontario; and Quebec.
- The name Canada derives from an Iroquoian word for “village,” kanata, that French explorers heard used to refer to the area near present-day Quebec City.
- On June 20, 1868, the Canada’s Governor General, the Viscount Monct proclaimed that Canadians should celebrate the anniversary of the confederation.
- July 1st became a statutory holiday and was originally called Dominion Day.
- Since 1983 the holiday has been officially known as Canada Day.
- July 1 is a statutory holiday in Canada unless it falls on a Sunday; then it moves to July 2nd.
- Some famous people born on Canada day: Pamela Anderson, Dan Akroyd, Lady Diana the Princess of Wales, Missy Elliott, Jamie Farr, Rod Gilbert, Debbie Harry, Olivia de Havilland, Estee Lauder, Carl Lewis, Sydney Pollack, Alan Ruck, Liv Tyler.
- Canada Day kicks off, what Canadians call, “those two months before winter starts”
