Canadians can be proud of many things. For example, a low crime rate and a good health care system. They are polite and peaceful, and most of them are bilingual in English and French.
Canada is a society that integrates different cultures. On July 1st, the nation has a big party to celebrate “Canada’s Birthday.” Canada Day marks the anniversary of Confederation on July 1st 1867. On that day three British colonies – Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada (Quebec and Ontario) – became one country: Canada. This new “Dominion” had more independence from Great Britain. The holiday was first called Dominion Day, and until 1900 it was a minor event because most Canadians still felt they were British citizens. The name changed to “Canada Day” in 1982. That was the year of the “Constitution Act,” which effectively removed British authority over Canada.
the commonwealth
Canada is, however, still a Commonwealth country with King Charles as the official head of state. The King’s portrait continues to adorn Canadian stamps and the dollar bills, and Canada Day is also celebrated in London, around Trafalgar Square and Canada House.
OTTAWA
Canada is a decentralised country, so there are Canada Day parties everywhere. The heart of the celebrations is Ottawa, the nation’s capital. Ottawa is a city of government, the seat of the parliament and the prime minister and the Governor General, Great Britain’s representative in Canada. Ottawa also attracts tourists with its fabulous museums and, in winter, the world’s largest skating rink.
let’s party!
On July 1st hundreds of thousands of people congregate in the city. Most of them are dressed in the Canadian colours, red and white, or paint their faces with the Canadian flag. Maple leaves, the symbol of Canada, are everywhere. Vast quantities of patriotic Labatt Blue beer are drunk. There are parades, festivals, cookouts, free music concerts, fairs and picnics. Citizenship ceremonies for new Canadians welcome immigrants who promise to love, honour and respect their new country. The famous white “Snowbirds,” Canada’s air force planes, display their aerial acrobatics in the sky. The highlight of the day’s entertainment is the fireworks display over Parliament Hill. But what does Canadian identity mean? According to writer Pierre Burton, “a Canadian is someone who knows how to make love in a canoe!”
(PLAY THE AUDIO)
INTERVIEW: a relaxed way of life
Canada may not get as much attention as its neighbour, the United States, but many Americans envy the Canadians for their more relaxed way of life. The Canadians will celebrate their nationhood on July 1st. This is Canada Day, the anniversary of the day in 1867 when a group of British colonies got together to form a Confederation.
Julie Descoteaux, a French Canadian who has lost her French accent, is the Coordinator of the Canada Day National Committee in Ottawa. We asked her why she felt proud to be Canadian:
Julie Descoteaux (Canadian accent): People are friendly, it’s a beautiful country. You don’t really feel threatened, it’s a very safe place to be. What I love about Canada is you’re travelling to the west and you’ve got the mountains and you’ve got the ocean, and you’ve got everything, you get a different experience, then you go through the Prairies, and it’s so flat, and then you come over here, and there’s a lot of lakes and it’s just beautiful. And, as you travel east, then Cape Breton, Newfoundland, and the people, and you’re really experiencing a whole lot of different cultures throughout, and you think, wow!
For more information: www.ottawatourism.ca