Canada Day is an opportunity to explore some of our country's history from the First People, to Confederation, local Dominion Day celebrations and the complexities of Canada's past. Canada is home to over 40 million people who enjoy our beautiful landscape and make up our country's vibrant spirit. This July 1, let's celebrate, learn and reflect together!
First People
Indigenous Peoples' stories state they have lived on this land that we now call Canada since time immemorial. Living in both permanent and seasonal communities, Indigenous Peoples developed distinct cultures, customs and languages from coast to coast to coast. Initially, small bands of hunter-fisher-gatherers established basic resource and information-sharing relationships to ensure survival. Over millennia, this evolved into extensive diplomatic, trade and cultural relationships between nations.
Before the 16th century, Indigenous and European societies grew independently, establishing unique forms of government, cultural practices and social codes. In "Canada and Colonialism: An Unfinished History," Jim Reynolds says "the social, cultural, and political differences between the two societies were mostly respected," and nation-to-nation alliances were established when Europeans began exploring and settling North America. However, the battle for control of North American territory raged between European nations until the successful conquest of New France by Britain in 1763, which established Britain as the continent’s dominant colonial power.
Confederation
After the American Declaration of Independence in 1776, the remaining British colonists in North America gradually sought increased autonomy and self-governance. In response to a series of rebellions, the Durham Report (1839) made the recommendation to join Upper and Lower Canada under one legislature. The two areas became the Province of Canada when the Act of Union was passed in 1841. The British North America Act united the colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the Province of Canada (Ontario and Quebec) as the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867.
During this period, the relationship between the new Canadian government and Indigenous nations changed radically. Numerous treaties and alliances that had been established between Indigenous peoples and European settlers were systematically abandoned by the colonial government. These agreements include the Covenant Chain, Kaswentha (Two-Row Wampum), and the Haldimand Grant. Instead, the government was interested in establishing reserves and assimilating Indigenous people into European religious and agricultural culture. This project of forced assimilation was fully articulated in the Indian Act of 1876, a version of which is still in place today.
Part of William Chewett's map of Upper Canada, 1813. Credit: Grace Schmidt Room of Local History's Map Collection.
Dominion Day in Berlin
Beginning in 1867, Dominion Day was celebrated each year on July 1. In that first year, over 5,000 people congregated in the village of Berlin (now Kitchener) to celebrate with a shared meal at the village hall, which included toasts and songs. The celebrations also included military drills, a torchlight parade of the Waterloo Fire Brigade, a concert and ball in the evening.
In 1917, the 50th anniversary celebrations included a Kitchener vs. Waterloo baseball game, a performance by Waterloo Musical Society band, a vaudeville show, a juggling act, races, children’s performances and patriotic religious services.
The 60th anniversary of Confederation, pictured below, was commemorated by a group of local volunteers recreating the 1867 procession with a vintage fire wagon, wearing fire hats and sporting fake beards.
Men dressed as vintage firefighters for the 60th anniversary of Confederation, 1927. Credit: Grace Schmidt Room of Local History's Photograph Collection.
The 1967 Canadian Centennial was celebrated in Kitchener throughout the year. Events included a film festival, children’s masquerade ball, food festival, art exhibitions, sporting competitions, antique car tour, chess tournament and a Dominion Day parade.
Centennial parade, Kitchener 1967. Credit: Grace Schmidt Room of Local History's Photograph Collection.
Canada Day's complex history
In 2017, Canada’s 150th anniversary was marked with considerable fanfare across the country. In Kitchener-Waterloo, the festivities on July 1 included a country music festival at Kitchener City Hall, fireworks at Columbia Lake in Waterloo and a special citizenship ceremony for 25 new Canadians at TheMuseum. Some made the decision to opt out of celebrations altogether due to the complex history of this holiday.
Today many are calling for a redefinition of Canada's national identity, including how we celebrate Canada Day. This approach would recognize the Indigenous history that came before Confederation and the long lasting impact of European colonialism. In "Surviving Canada," Leroy Little Bear suggests “the only way that Canada...will become a true nation is by embodying the Indigenous roots of the territory it claims.”
Read More
Whether you choose to celebrate or not, Canada Day gives us a great opportunity to dig a little deeper and discover something new about our national history. Explore our Canada Day reading list for adults and our reading list for children to continue your learning journey!
