Canada Day is celebrated every year on July 1st throughout Canada with a lot of enthusiasm and patriotism. The day holds significant importance in the history of Canada, as it marks the anniversary of the Constitution Act because the three territories merged into the single nation of Canada back in 1867. The act was known as the British North America Act.
On July 1, 1867, the British North America Act officially joined the colonies, creating the Dominion of Canada. The colonies were New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario. Canada became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain shortly after.
In 1982, Canada became fully independent. Since 1983, July 1st has been known as “Canada Day” and is celebrated by Canadians with full zest and zeal.
Since 1867, Canada has grown and has a total of ten provinces and three territories. The most recent change for Canada is the territory of Nunavut, founded in 1999. The other two territories are Northwest Territories and Yukon.
Canadian Provinces
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
Nunavut is the largest territory in Canada. It is also the newest territory, separated from Northwest Territories in 1999.
How old is Canada turning this year?
Canada is turning 153 years old this year. Like every other year, Canadians will be celebrating the 153rd anniversary of the Constitution Act of 1867, which as told before, established Canada as a country.
How is Canada Day celebrated?
On this day, one can see the Canadian flag fly high at various places, while people enjoy the spectacular sight of firework displays, attend music concerts, go to food festivals, participate in parades, and a lot many other patriotic activities.
Canadians all over the country usually love celebrating this day with their families and friends. It is a statutory holiday throughout the country. Many events happen at different places which keeps the people of all age groups involved. People love to enjoy this patriotic day by attending events hosted in their local areas. People love wearing red and white because they are the colours of the Canadian flag. It is more like a festive holiday. Other ideas for celebrating this event include:
- Making Canada Day Special Food!
- Hosting a party for family and friends
- Make Canada Day Crafts with the kids
Click here to find some of the delicious Canada Day Special recipes that one can enjoy making at home.
Fireworks
Canada Day is incomplete without beautiful fireworks. In British Columbia, they take place in a lot of areas like Abbotsford, Burnaby, Surrey, Vancouver, New Westminster, West Vancouver, and White Rock. They are usually also seen in Coquitlam, Mission, Whistler, and sometimes even Squamish too. Because of COVID-19, live fireworks and celebrations didn’t happen in some places in 2020 or 2021.
The fireworks will not take place at Canada Place this year. However, you can enjoy watching them in the other areas such as:
・Surrey
Surrey would be celebrating Canada Day with a lot of cultural festivities, and amusement rides for kids. Celebrations are always incomplete without food so a lot of food trucks will also be seen in the city. At night post 10 pm, sparkling fireworks will be seen across this place.
Time: Fireworks at 10:15 pm
Location: Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre – 17728 64th Avenue, Surrey
Entry: Free
・Burnaby
Celebrations in Burnaby will also include fun-filled events and activities to grace the occasion, and fireworks would be like a cherry on the cake! Burnaby will be highlighting “Street Fest,” an event that would include food trucks, family-oriented activities, and live performances by various artists.
Time: Fireworks at 10:15 pm
Location: Civic Square (6100 Willingdon Ave.) to Central Park
Entry: Free
・Coquitlam
Like Surrey & Burnaby, Coquitlam will also be celebrating family-friendly events full of fun and entertainment, multicultural performances by various artists, food trucks, family-oriented activities, and opportunities to learn more about Canadian history. Beautiful fireworks will be seen dazzling in the sky towards late evening.
Time: Fireworks at 10 pm
Location: Town Centre Park – 1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Entry: Free
・Vancouver
There will be no fireworks at Canada Place this year. However, there will be other events around Waterfront to celebrate this special day. A lot of food trucks would be seen in the city along with other family-friendly activities. The theme of the event revolves around togetherness and diversity, named “Weaving together the fabric of a nation” which will ignite a spark of unity among the people.
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 pm, no fireworks
Location: The outdoor spaces at Canada Place, Jack Poole Plaza, Harbour Green Park, and surrounding city streets. Please note there will be no indoor programming inside Canada Place.
Entry: Free
As it will get crowded, people should avoid taking their cars and are advised to use public transport and make the best use of transit, bike, or if possible, walking would be a better option too. It is also advised that everyone should leave their pets at home.
Enjoy celebrating the feeling of unity and patriotism by celebrating Canada Day.
Canada International Student Magazine wishes you all a very Happy Canada Day in advance!
Source: Fireworks on Canada Day 2022 Celebrate Canada Day in Burnaby Canada Day Event Guide
