Why July 1
Canada Day marks July 1, 1867, when the British North America Act, now known as the Constitution Act, 1867, united the Province of Canada, which became Ontario and Quebec, with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick as one Dominion. The holiday was first called Dominion Day and was renamed Canada Day in 1982.
A fixed date and an observed holiday
The date never moves: it is July 1. If July 1 falls on a Sunday, the holiday is commonly observed on Monday, July 2, so the day off does not always match the date. This countdown always ends at the first moment of July 1 itself, not at the observed Monday, and it moves on to the next year when the day is over.
How it is celebrated
Canada Day is a statutory holiday across the country. Communities hold parades, concerts and fireworks, many people wear red and white, and the maple leaf flag is everywhere. In Newfoundland and Labrador, July 1 is also Memorial Day, which recalls the Newfoundland soldiers who fell at Beaumont-Hamel on July 1, 1916.
Canada Day around the country
Large celebrations are held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and in cities and towns everywhere, and citizenship ceremonies are held on the day, so some people become Canadian citizens on Canada Day itself. In Quebec, July 1 is also traditionally moving day, because many residential leases end on June 30, which makes it a busy day for movers as well as for fireworks.
Fireworks and long evenings
Fireworks usually begin after dark, which in early July is late in the evening in much of Canada, so there is plenty of time to count down. The countdown timer can time a barbecue or a parade route, and the clock helps with the schedule. You can embed the countdown on a community page. Father’s Day comes a week or two earlier, and Labour Day is the next general holiday in Alberta after Canada Day.
More countdowns
Need a different date? Use the countdown to any date or count up with time since a date.
Questions
What date is Canada Day this year?
Canada Day is always July 1. The countdown above always shows the next one, so it is right for the current year without any lookup. Only the weekday changes, which decides whether the holiday makes a long weekend.
When is Canada Day observed if July 1 is a Sunday?
When July 1 falls on a Sunday, the day off is commonly moved to Monday, July 2, though the details depend on your employer and province. The countdown here always counts to July 1 itself, since that is the date of the holiday.
Why was Canada Day once called Dominion Day?
July 1, 1867 created the Dominion of Canada, and the holiday was called Dominion Day for most of its history. Parliament renamed it Canada Day in 1982. The date itself still marks Confederation.
Is Canada Day a statutory holiday?
Yes. Canada Day is a statutory holiday across Canada, and in Alberta it is one of the general holidays. Most schools, banks and government offices are closed, while shops and restaurants may keep their own hours.