On July 1, 2003
Canada will celebrate it's 136th year since
Confederation.
Before 1982 Canada Day had been known as Dominion Day,
First of July, Confederation Day, and July the First.
Canada Day celebrates the events that occurred on July
1, 1867, when the British North America Act created
the Canadian federal government. The BNA Act
proclaimed "one Dominion under the name of Canada,"
hence the original title of the holiday, "Dominion
Day." Dominion Day was officially renamed "Canada Day"
by an Act of Parliament on October 27, 1982. This
change reflected the policy of successive governments
to down play Canada's colonial origins.
Canada's national celebration is always observed on
July 1, unless that date falls on a Sunday, in which
case it is observed the following day.