Discover the True North: Top 13 Fascinating Fun Facts to Celebrate Canada Day

1. Fireworks debut on Canada Day

If that famous 1981 film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, had instead been called Invaders of the Canadian Sky, there would have been a plethora of fireworks instead of snakes and ancient relics as the coveted treasure: on Canada Day in 1981, fireworks made their debut in 15 major cities across the nation, a tradition that has exploded in popularity and lights up the night every year since.
Source => canada.ca

2. NCC's Ultimate Canada Day Bash

Oh, Canada: the land of maple syrup, mounties, and more celebrations than one can shake a hockey stick at! In its endless quest for the perfect party, the nation lent the party-planning reins to the National Capital Commission (NCC) in 1984: charged with orchestrating the ultimate Canada Day bash in the capital, the NCC took over the previously tradition of multicultural festivities on Parliament Hill, which had been held since 1968 and included concerts, parades, and fireworks – all broadcasted on TV for the enjoyment of the whole country.
Source => canada.ca

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=> Fun Facts about 4th-Of-July

3. Memorial Day meets Canada Day

Hold your maple syrup and moose calls, Newfoundland and Labrador have their own pre-Canada Day warm-up: These provinces combine the festivities of Canada Day with Memorial Day, an annual tradition since 1917. This heartfelt amalgamation honors the sacrifices of about 700 soldiers from the 1st Newfoundland Regiment who were lost at Beaumont-Hamel during the First World War. So, every July 1st, parades, moments of silence, and flags flown at half staff bring together the nation in reverence and cheer!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Tattoo 1967: Marching Through History

Ready, set, tattoo! No, we're not talking about those trendy ink-slinging parlors; we're taking a trip back to 1967 when Canada's Armed Forces made a showstopping spectacle as they marched to their own drummer: The military tattoo known as Tattoo 1967 was the largest undertaking during peacetime, featuring 1700 military men and women who traveled across Canada, delivering over 150 performances from March to November. This grand affair showcased Canada's military history from the first French settlers in 1665, all the way to their 1967 UN peacekeeping role, and was even filmed by both the CBC Television and the National Film Board of Canada!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Goodbye Dominion Day, Hello Canada Day

In a "name-it-and-claim-it" moment that would make any marketing guru proud, Canada decided to ditch its colonial baggage like last season's wardrobe: Canada Day, formerly known as Dominion Day, was officially renamed on October 27, 1982, as a crucial step towards embracing full Canadian sovereignty and forging a unique national identity.
Source => almanac.com

6. Peace Tower Carillon's Sick Symphonies

Who needs DJs when you've got bells? Canada's Parliament Hill has been dropping sick symphonies for nearly a century: The Peace Tower Carillon in Ottawa first played a concert during its dedication ceremony in 1927, coinciding with Canada's Diamond Jubilee. Since then, it continues to serenade listeners with a mix of hymns, folk songs, modern tunes, and patriotic airs while offering formal recitals most weekdays.
Source => thediscoverblog.com

7. Pancake Breakfasts with Prime Ministers

When pigs fly and politicians serve you pancakes: Canada's western pancake breakfasts are a beloved tradition, where businesses, charities, and even Canadian Prime Ministers partake in serving massive feasts – like the Chinook Centre in Calgary dishing out pancakes to over 60,000 people in a single day!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Canada Day's Centre Block Shuffle

As stubborn as a mule on roller skates, Canada Day refused to be uprooted by the pesky Centre Block Rehabilitation project, kicking up a celebration that refuses to die down: despite being relocated a mere 1.5 kilometres to the west in Ottawa, the festivities continue throughout the day and night, with a plethora of Canadian artists showcasing activities and performances at various sites, culminating in a fireworks extravaganza that lights up the sky, come rain or shine.
Source => ottawatourism.ca

9. Mama Duck's Giant Splash

In a mammoth game of duck, duck, goose gone awry, Canada welcomed a prodigious, 61-foot tall rubber duck to its shores: making its splashy debut during the 2017 Canada Day celebrations as part of the ONTARIO 150 Tour, Mama Duck attracted over 750,000 visitors, weighed a whopping 30,000 pounds, measured 79 feet wide and 89 feet long, and resulted in an estimated $7.6 million economic impact and over $10.6 million in new spending from non-local attendees.
Source => todocanada.ca

10. Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day's Evolution

Once upon a Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, Quebec parties traded in their rosaries for parade floats and bonfire glowsticks: Originally a religious celebration of Saint John the Baptist's birth, this June 24th festivity evolved into a secular, politically-charged holiday centered around Quebec separatism, complete with parades, concerts, and other merry activities organized by the Comité organisateur de la fête nationale du Québec since 1925.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Canada Day: Beavers and Maple Syrup

When Canadian beavers throw a party, even the maple syrup flows red and white: Canada Day is the nationwide fête that honors the country's history, achievements, and identity, featuring events from coast to coast, highlighting everything from the Vancouver Olympics' triumphs to its expanding global role providing military, diplomatic, and humanitarian efforts.
Source => royal.uk

12. Superman's Toronto Origins

Before "The 6ix" had Drake crooning about it, there was a more... super visitor, swooping in for some Timbits: Joseph Shuster, the Canadian artist who co-created Superman, used Toronto as the inspiration for Metropolis and based the Daily Planet on the Toronto Star newspaper.
Source => globalnews.ca

13. Secret of the 11-pointed Maple Leaf

In a surprising twist on Canada's version of Where's Waldo, their national flag hides an 11-pointed maple leaf instead of the commonly assumed 5 or 7-pointer, eh: The National Flag of Canada, featuring a single red stylized maple leaf on a white background with two red borders, was officially unveiled on Parliament Hill on February 15, 1965 and has since become a recognizable emblem of Canadian identity, both within the borders and on foreign soil.
Source => canada.ca