What Canada Day means to Canadians

Watch this video to hear 7 different Canadian perspectives on Canada Day!

What do individuals think of Canada Day? We asked 7 Canadians to share their honest perspectives on the national holiday: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Canada Day, also known as “Canada’s birthday,” has been celebrated since 1867 to commemorate the battle for independence and the consolidation of three territories into the single nation of Canada. The main purpose of this national holiday is to show off national pride and celebrate the creation of Canada. Most communities across Canada celebrate by hosting public events such as parades, musical concerts, barbeques, carnivals, air shows, fireworks, and more.

In recent years however, Canada Day has become more controversial as the country reckons with its dark colonial history. This colonial dominance that has been part of Canada’s past and present, has allowed for social, political, and economic injustices that systematically oppress Indigenous peoples. This year especially, #CancelCanadaDay slogans have been trending on social media as calls to refuse celebrations rapidly increase.

Despite the ongoing calls to cancel the national holiday, Canada Day is still viewed disparately by nationals and immigrants across the country. Watch the video above to hear 7 different Canadian perspectives on Canada Day!

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This video is part of Talks Inclusion’s Canada Day series to share different Canadians’ perspectives on Canada Day. The objective of this series is to inspire decision makers and people in roles of influence to take action for a more inclusive and just Canada.