What is Canada Day and why do we celebrate it?

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The discussion celebrates Canada Day, marking the 139th anniversary of the Dominion of Canada, established on July 1, 1867. Participants engage in a quiz about Canadian history, covering topics such as the origins of the first European settlers, the United Empire Loyalists, and the British North America Act. Key points include the four original provinces of Confederation—Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec—and the significance of the Constitution Act of 1982, which removed British political influence in Canada. The quiz also touches on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canada's bilingual status, and the origins of the name "Canada." The conversation shifts to personal anecdotes about living near the Canada-U.S. border, including references to local events like the Freedom Festival and shared memories of places in Ontario and Michigan. Overall, the thread reflects a mix of historical knowledge and personal connections to Canada.
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July 1, 2006, the 139th birthday of the Dominion of Canada.

On this day in 1867, the Fathers of Confederation created what was destined to become the greatest nation in the world.

Happy Birthday Canada!
 
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An interesting little quiz ripped from RFD, I managed to get 10/12 (without cheating of course, that would ruin the fun!).

1) Where did the first European settlers in Canada come from?
2) Who were the United Empire Loyalists?
3) When did the British North America Act come into effect?
4) Which four provinces first formed Confederation?
5) What part of the Constitution legally protects the basic rights and freedoms of all Canadians?
6) Which province is the only officially bilingual province?
7) What are the three main groups of aboriginal peoples?
8) What is the tower in the centre of the Parliament Buildings called?
9) What is the population of Canada?
10) Where does the name "Canada" come from?
11) Who is Canada's head of state?
12) Why is the Constitution Act 1982 important in Canadian history?
 
Oh Can nada, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Oh Can nada, doo doo doo doo doo doo...

Sorry, that's all I remember. :biggrin:

Happy Canada Day, eh.
 
o, Canada
our home and native land
something or another
The star spangled banner is better
 
I'll have a go at the quiz. I reckon I got 4-5 right. I had to guess at most of them. Quite pathetically, sometimes.

1. France
2. English Loyalists
3. 1803
4. Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec
5. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
6. New Brunswick
7. Arawaks, Iroquois, Cherokee
8. Parliament Towers
9. 32 million or so
10. Some indiginous word
11. Steven (Stephen?) Harper
12. Completely eliminated British influence in Canadian politics.:biggrin:
 
Smurf said:
4. Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec

The NF join after WWII. the right answer is
Nova-scotia, New-Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec

Smurf said:
10. Some indiginous word

You don't watch enough TV. Those Part of Heritage bites tell you about it.
the real word is Kanata which the french misunderstand for Canada and it means Village and not nation

Smurf said:
11. Steven (Stephen?) Harper

Wrong again it's Queen Elizabeth II.

Smurf said:
12. Completely eliminated British influence in Canadian politics.

Its when the Constitution was brought back to Canada but Quebec did not sign the act and that lead to charletown and lach Meech accord[/Color]
 
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Oh happy day to our neighbor and friends in Canada!
 
1) Where did the first European settlers in Canada come from?
iceland

2) Who were the United Empire Loyalists?
emigrated to Canada (nova scotia?) during american revolutionary war (?)

3) When did the British North America Act come into effect?
1867

4) Which four provinces first formed Confederation?
nova scotia, new brunswick, upper Canada (aka ontario), lower Canada (aka quebec) & then in order, british columbia, manitoba, prince edward island, Alberta & saskatchewan, newfoundland (later newfoundland & labrador)

5) What part of the Constitution legally protects the basic rights and freedoms of all Canadians?
charter of rights & freedoms

6) Which province is the only officially bilingual province?
new brunswick

7) What are the three main groups of aboriginal peoples?
dene, inuit,... not sure about this one

8) What is the tower in the centre of the Parliament Buildings called?
peace tower (containing the country's 2nd-largest carillon)

9) What is the population of Canada?
~32000000

10) Where does the name "Canada" come from?
canada in spanish is a creek on whose shore sugar cane grows... or it's a native word meaning village

11) Who is Canada's head of state?
QEII, represented by michaelle jean

12) Why is the Constitution Act 1982 important in Canadian history?
made Canada effectively free from british political influence
 
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Happy Canada Day to all our Canadian members.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10904887.jpg

Zz.
 
  • #10
So, Hypatia... is the Freedom Festival still an event down there? It's pretty much the only thing that I miss from living there. (Had I known you in those days, however, I would never have left. :biggrin: )
 
  • #11
Danger said:
So, Hypatia... is the Freedom Festival still an event down there? It's pretty much the only thing that I miss from living there.

The Freedom Festival used to be pretty much right at my doorstep.
 
  • #12
Canada day AGAIN? Doesn't seem like a week since this happened last time.
 
  • #13
George Jones said:
The Freedom Festival used to be pretty much right at my doorstep.
Do tell? So you were in Windsor, Amhurstburg, LaSalle, or Walkerville, right? I was a couple of miles north of Ruthven, 5 miles out of Leamington.
 
  • #14
Danger said:
Do tell? So you were in Windsor, Amhurstburg, LaSalle, or Walkerville, right? I was a couple of miles north of Ruthven, 5 miles out of Leamington.

Remember the (now non-existent) Holiday on Riverside near downtown Windsor? I lived 200 metres from there. I almost meant literally "on my doorstep". I had friends from Kingsville/Leamington.
 
  • #15
yomamma said:
o, Canada
our home and native land
something or another
The star spangled banner is better
You are young and don't know any better. Cyrus is still right.

REVISION: Cyrus corrected my mistake.
 
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  • #16
My godparents used to live in Amherstburg. If I remember correctly, we could get the Boblo ferry from there.
 
  • #17
:smile: No no no, pengwunio is the bird brain, yomamma is a kid, so we'll have to let him slide (for now).
 
  • #18
George Jones said:
Remember the (now non-existent) Holiday on Riverside near downtown Windsor? I lived 200 metres from there. I almost meant literally "on my doorstep". I had friends from Kingsville/Leamington.
Wholly moley. My grandparents weren't too far from you. We drove down Riverside to get to their place. It is a small world.
 
  • #19
cyrusabdollahi said:
:smile: No no no, pengwunio is the bird brain, yomamma is a kid, so we'll have to let him slide (for now).
Whoops. I had to go back and edit my post. Sorry kid. Go to Chuck E. Cheese's on me or something...
 
  • #20
Happy Birthday Eh!
 
  • #21
Danger said:
So, Hypatia... is the Freedom Festival still an event down there? It's pretty much the only thing that I miss from living there. (Had I known you in those days, however, I would never have left. :biggrin: )

Yea I went this year to the fireworks on the river. I went across to Windsor to watch them. A lot of people, good food and beer!:biggrin:
 
  • #22
Happy Belated Canada Day! Hope you all had a good one.
 
  • #23
FredGarvin said:
My godparents used to live in Amherstburg. If I remember correctly, we could get the Boblo ferry from there.

I used to go with friend to a restaurant in Amherstburg. Never caught the Boblo boat, though. I did take the ferry (from Leamington) a couple of times to Pelee Island.

Wholly moley. My grandparents weren't too far from you. We drove down Riverside to get to their place. It is a small world.

Yes, it is! I think I read a while ago that you grew up in Michigan and are now back in Michigan. For 4 months of each of 2003, 2004, and 2005, my wife worked at the GM Tech Center in Warren, and we lived in Utica, Madison Heights, and Rochester.
 
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