Happy Canada Day
 

How will you be spending Canada Day? Here is Ottawa we will first be having a BBQ at a friends farm 'up the line'. We will then return to the city in time for a quick bike ride to the festivities (singing, dancing)on Parliament Hill including a venture over to the jazz festival. Happy Canada Day to all and have a safe celebration.

Have a wonderful Canada Day, Canadians everywhere!

Happy Canada Day to all our Canadian friends.

Maybe for we ignorant folks south of the border, a Canadian might explain what Canada Day celebrates. I have an impression it is similar to our 4th of July but since Canada never actually declared it's independence, maybe not. Anyway, inquiring minds want to know.

Happy Canada Day, all.

I'm at a four day baseball tournament hosted by my youngest son's team in North Vancouver. Fittingly called the CanAm with several teams from WA state.

A wordy explanation of Canada Day from the government's website:

"On June 20, 1868, a proclamation signed by the Governor General, Lord Monck, called upon all Her Majesty's loving subjects throughout Canada to join in the celebration of the anniversary of the formation of the union of the British North America provinces in a federation under the name of Canada on July 1st.

The July 1 holiday was established by statute in 1879, under the name Dominion Day.

On October 27, 1982, July 1st which was known as "Dominion Day" became "Canada Day"."

And that official verbiage (gee, government departments haven't changed much in 140 years!) means that July 1, 1867 was the formal date of the origin of Canada as a country. Four British colonies (now the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia & New Brunswick) united to form a new country.
And here's an item to astonish American readers: one of the factors prompting us to unite was the panic created by IRA terrorist raids from the U.S. OK, I exaggerate slightly -- but not much.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenian_Raids
Was this the original border patrol?
Seriously, I'm glad visiting the U.S. is actually a lot LESS threatening these days.
It's always good to have a historical perspective.

"Four British colonies (now the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia & New Brunswick) united to form a new country."

Actually, three British colonies, Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were united under the British North America Act to form the Dominion of Canada. The former Province of Canada was split into two new provinces, Ontario and Quebec.

Thanks for the information. I have just been reflecting that even though I've visited Canada many, many times, it is disgraceful how little I know about her history.

Thanks for that link. 'Irish' Americans fighting 'British' Canadians in the 1870s makes about as much sense as does what is going on today.
Following that lead with an earlier battle over a pig on San Juan island.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig_War