Canada Day, once known as Dominion Day, marks the anniversary of July 1, 1867. On this day, Canada was officially born when the British North America Act, 1867 (today called the Constitution Act, 1867) joined the three colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the province of Canada into one country.
The province of Canada later split into Ontario and Quebec.
Canada became a kingdom in its own right on July 1, with the British parliament and Cabinet only keeping limited rights of political control over the new Canadian country.
By 1982, however, the last vestiges of British control were surrendered.
It was also in this year that, after decades of deliberation, Dominion Day was renamed to Canada Day.
In 2017 Canada will be celebrating its 150th birthday with celebrations all year long across the country. Why not start planning now how you will be celebrating as Canada reaches this milestone birthday – and you can start your countdown on this Friday, July 1st!