Why Canada Day Matters

Like many other nations, Canada has its Canada Day that's specifically dedicated to the founding of the nation. Every first day of July each year marks a national holiday that's celebrated by all Canadians, regardless of the province they reside in, the language they speak, or the religious group they affiliate with. In my hometown of Delta, British Columbia, people come out in red t-shirts and Canadian flag themed attires. They gather together for some pancake breakfast and dancing to some traditional Canadian folk music, which is heavily influenced by Canada's Scottish- Irish immigrants. This scene, however, is not unique just for people in Delta. If you walk around a town somewhere in Ontario or Nova Scotia on Canada Day, you would see very similar scenes. It's pretty clear to me that Canada Day is definitely the type of holiday that's best celebrated together with the community.

People lining up for the pancake breakfast for Canada Day in Ladner, Delta, BC

The modern country of Canada was founded on July 1st, 1867 as backed by the British North America Act (BNA).  The founding of the nation was a direct result of and a response to the United States' post- civil war expansion. As stated by the BNA, the British sovereign would unite all of its northern colonies into one political entity to prevent the United States' annexation of the British Empire's remaining colonies in North America.In other words, Canada as a country was formed not as a result of a war like many other nations such as the U.S, China, or France. Rather, it was formed as a resolution to offer a collective protection for its citizens to shield people from wars and conflicts. The peaceful nature of the Canadian nation has long been intertwined with its history. The Canadian military, which contributes a fairly significant part in building the Canadian identity from the past to  present,  has been praised throughout the world for their efforts in peacekeeping .

The Canadian military is cheered and celebrated both domestically and internationally

Canada has provided shelters for those who escaped great miseries elsewhere long before it even became a nation. The country was first conceived as a haven for British loyalists during the American revolution to avoid conflicts and persecutions. Later on, it received Native Americans from the United States who fled their homeland as a result of the American- Indian war. Since its founding, Canada has been a destination for thousands of Black Americans to escape the immoral slavery prior to the American Civil War. However, Canada was not a perfect country, and it had made mistakes that led to great tragedies. But ever since then the Canadian people and society have striven to protect every man and woman who set their foot on Canadian soil.  Today, individual freedom and the freedom of expression are guaranteed and protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms of 1982, regardless of where you come from and what types of beliefs you hold.

Local businesses and volunteers serving the pancakes to the community

So why does Canada Day matter? Canada Day is a celebration of the country's history and who Canadians are. It is a celebration of peace and protections offered by the others in our community from wars and conflicts . It celebrates the value of liberty, Canadians' welcoming nature, and the conscience of helping those who are in need. Most importantly, Canada Day brings people and the entire nation together, like how it has been doing so since 1867.

A Canadian flag caked decorated with Raspberry