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Canada Day celebrated every 1st of July was formerly called Dominion Day. It is also referred to as “Canada’s birthday”.  It is Canada’s national day and a federal statutory holiday. It is being observed not only in Canada but also internationally. This year Canada is 141 years old.

Going back a bit on history, Canada day is the occasion that marks the joining of the British Colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada into a federation of 4 provinces as it was divided into Ontario and Quebec. However, though it is regarded that Canada became a Kingdom, the British Parliament at first kept limited rights of political control over the new country, which were shed by stages over the years until the last vestiges were ended in 1982, when the Constitution Act patriated the Canadian constitution. Hence, Canada day differs from Independence Day celebrations in other countries, in that it does not commemorate a clear-cut date of complete independence.

July 1, set as Canada day was the date set for a number of important events, such as the inauguration of the CBC’s cross-country TV broadcast in 1958, the flooding of the Saint Lawrence Seaway in 1958, the first colour TV transmission in Canada in 1966, the inauguration of the Order of Canada in 1967, and the establishment of “O Canada” as the country's national anthem in 1980. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org)

In celebration of Canada Day, most communities across the country organizes public events, usually outdoor, such as parades, carnivals, festivals, picnic at the park and a lot more. The locus of the celebrations is the national capital, Ottawa, Ontario, where large concerts, presided over by the Governor General is being held on the Parliament Hill. As well as other parks around the city and in Hull, Quebec.

Canada Day is also being celebrated internationally. For example, in London, UK, annual Canada Day celebration is being held on June 30 at the Trafalgar Square, the location of Canada House in London, England. Organized by the Canadian community in the United Kingdom and the Canadian High Commission, the event features Canadian performers and a demonstration of street hockey, amongst the other activities.
Also, since 2000, the Victoria Cross bar in Sydney, Australia is the location for official Canada Day celebrations and members of the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan mark each Canada Day at their base.
Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario have since the 1950s, celebrated Dominion Day or Canada Day and the United States' Independence Day with the International Freedom Festival. A massive fireworks display over the Detroit river,  the strait separating the two cities, is held annually with hundreds of thousands of spectators attending.

Many Canadians residing abroad still celebrates Canada day in many different ways. In our modern society and specially here in T.O. we celebrate it by embracing diversity and multi-culturalism by sharing values and  proudly presenting what we have in common.

Bonne Fete Canada!

Canada Day Multicultural Celebration photos at Yonge & Dundas Square »