Canada Day: then and now

Trisha Matabalan, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
July 2, 2026

(Photo courtesy: Mark Carney/Facebook)

CANADA – July 1 is celebrated as Canada Day to commemorate the British North America Act (known as the Constitution Act 1867) that created Canada. This was guaranteed after Governor General Lord Monck signed a proclamation on June 20, 1868 that requested all Her Majesty’s subjects to celebrate July 1.

In 1879, a federal law confirmed July 1 as a statutory holiday. It went a couple of name changes, from the “anniversary of Confederation”, “Dominion Day”, and then, on October 27, 1982, it was finally named Canada Day.

This historic event was celebrated for years. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, July 1 was celebrated in a virtual format to comply with the strict health regulations of the time. Now, iin 2026, Canadians celebrate the country’s 159th birthday in full force. This means parades, fireworks, and concerts across the country.

Unfortunately, due to weather complications and thunderstorm advisories, the evening events in the Canada have been cancelled in order to guarantee the safety of the citizens.

This year, Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canadians are “aiming for the moon as well as the World Cup,” highlighting the historic wins that Canada earned as a co-host of the FIFA World Cup and their decision to join the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027.