Canada 150: Canada Day 2017
Are you new to Canada? Wondering what Canada 150 (or even Canada Day) are? Or maybe just want to know where to celebrate Canada Day (and Canada 150) this year? Well, you've come to the right place.
Over the last few months, I've started noticing "Canada 150" everywhere. Stores are selling Canada 150 merchandise, venues all over the city are planning events and celebrations, and people are getting excited. Toronto Public Library has hundreds of events planned for Canada 150, spread out over our 100 branches… and it's practically all my librarian colleagues talk about. Plus, wonderful new books published especially for Canada 150 have started arriving at library branches all over the city. How can anyone not get excited?
In this blog post, I've shared with you some of my favourite ways to celebrate Canada Day 2017 and Canada 150. Even if you know all the best places to watch fireworks on July 1, or you think you know everything there is to know about Canada 150, I bet some of the events and books I've included in my blog will surprise you.
Celebrating Canada
On July 1, 1867, Canada's provinces joined together to form one country: Canada! Which is why every year, on July 1st, we celebrate Canada Day.
O Canada
Our National Anthem (English version)
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.[1]
If you're new to Canada (or aren't familiar with our national anthem) you can listen to it online at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Canada Mosaic. The anthem is available in the 12 languages most commonly spoken in Canada: English, French, Mandarin, Punjabi, Spanish, German, Italian, Arabic, Tagalog, Cree, ASL (American Sign Language), and Tamil. The video below is a mix of all 12.
Canadians celebrate Canada Day with fireworks, concerts, picnics, parades, and events throughout the country. It's always a much-anticipated celebration, but this year it's even more special. On July 1, 2017, Canada turns 150 years old. You might have heard people talking about this momentous occasion, otherwise known as "Canada 150."
Celebrate Canada 150… at the library
At Toronto Public Library, we're celebrating Canada 150 all year long, with hundreds of programs across the city. Check with your local library to see what they have planned and come see how librarians are celebrating Canada 150. Canada day is next Saturday (on July 1, or course), but the library is starting the celebration early. Here's what we'll be doing in the week leading up to Canada Day:
All About 1867 – Canada's Great Lakes Ships and Shipwrecks
Discover the exciting stories of several Canadian ships from the year 1867, the year Canada became a country!
Writers Group: Canada 150 Celebration
Celebrate Canada's 150th birthday with the Scarborough Scribblers, Albert Campbell Library's writers' group. Experience an authentic writers group meeting with Canadian-themed writing prompts, readings, inspiration, and more. Writers of all genres are welcome!
Tuesday, June 27, 2-3 p.m.
Adult Crafternoon: Canada Day Bunting
Celebrate Canada 150 with a beautiful Canada Day themed bunting/banner to hang up and liven any space! All materials will be provided. Space is limited. Registration is required. Please register in branch or call 416-396-8951.
Wednesday, June 28, 6-8:15 p.m.
National Film Board of Canada – Canada 150 Shorts Compiliation
Celebrate Canada Day by watching some great shorts from the National Film Board of Canada. These are the shorts: Big Drive, Blackfly, Log Driver's Waltz, I Can Make Art…Like Emily Carr, I Can Make Art…Like Marcelle Ferron, Momentum, Paddle to the Sea, Postcards from Canada, and The Sweater.
Thursday, June 29 6-7 p.m.
Canada 150 – Maple Leaf Cross Stitch for Kids
Celebrate Canada's 150th Birthday! Learn how to make your own Maple Leaf cross stitch at the library. All materials will be provided. Suitable for children ages 6 and up; paren'ts and caregivers welcome. Space is limited. Call 416-396-3865 to register.
Friday, June 30 4-5 p.m.
Come celebrate Canada's 150th birthday with us. There will be cake, games and more. Get ready to party!
Celebrate Canada 150… on July 1
All Toronto Public Library branches are closed on July 1 for Canada Day, so be sure to check out your Canada Day reads early. On Canada Day, there will be plenty of free events in the community for you to enjoy.
You can celebrate Canada 150 at Canada Days!, a citywide celebration that is happening at four locations across Toronto. The City of Toronto (in partnership with the Province of Ontario’s Ontario150 Program and the Government of Canada) has one-day events planned at Mel Lastman Square, Humber Bay Park West and Scarborough Civic Centre on July 1, and a four-day festival at Nathan Phillips Square from June 30 to July 3. These events are free.
You can also find a list of other Canada Day events, as well as Canada Day firework times and locations, on Toronto.com.
Celebrate Canada 150… with books
If you'd rather pass on the Canada 150 festivities, or need a little extra something, you can also celebrate Canada 150 with books. Reading is one of my favourite ways to celebrate anything and everything (it's no wonder I'm a librarian). I've included a selection of Canadian reads below, starting with books published especially for Canada's 150th birthday… followed by books about Canada Day in general. Of course, you might also want to learn more about our beloved Canada, its rich history, beautiful landscape, and diverse population. Luckily, I've included some books about those topics too. If they don't get you in a Canada 150 mood, I don't know what will… except for fireworks, of course!
For Adults
For Kids
Discover Canada
And let's not forget Discover Canada! If you immigrated here, this is the book that helps you study for your Canadian Citizenship Test. It's full facts about Canada: our history, government, justice system, economy, and provinces and territories. Why not brush up on your Canada trivia in time for the first of July? You can borrow it from the library, read it online, or listen to it online.
Just For Laughs
While I was writing this blog, I also came across some hilarious books about Canada… and this "just for laughs" section was born. Celebrate living in a country you can laugh about (and love for all its quirks) with these hilarious reads.
In the History Books
Canada 150 will be remembered for years to come, just like Canada's 100th anniversary: the Canadian Centennial. If you were in Canada in 1967 for that celebration, do you remember what you were doing on July 1, 1967? Share your story in the comments section! And please come back after July 1 and share how you celebrated Canada 150. Who knows… maybe one day, your photo from July 1, 2017 will join archived photos of Canada 100 like the one below.
Happy Canada Day and Happy Canada 150!
I hope you have a wonderful Canada Day and enjoy some of the Canada 150 festivities Toronto has to offer. Don't forget to come back to share your stories! How did you celebrate? Did you attend any of our library programs? Did you enjoy any of the recommended reads? I'd love to hear from you.
References
- "O Canada : OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM" (PDF). Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
- Middleton, Kathy (2017). Canada's 150th Birthday. Crabtree Publishing Company. p.4. ISBN 978-0-7787-4108-4.
- Feeny, Edwin (1967). "It was young 'CAH- NAH- DAH-' Day at Ex." From the Toronto Star Archives. Call Number/Accession Number tspa_0111822f. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
17 thoughts on “Canada 150: Canada Day 2017”
Brilliant report!
I’m glad the anthem lyrics still ask God to keep our land….
I hope the Air Force will do a July 1st fly-by too.
Thanks, Larry. Glad you enjoyed the post.
A great resource for everyone, especially new Canadians. Easy to navigate and use as we prepare to celebrate our great library system across Toronto. This is a time of pride for all of us, young and young at heart. We celebrate the evolution of a country we call Canada. This land is a home to indigenous First Nations, settlers dating back to Labrador and Newfoundland that precede Columbus’ arrival, and now we see the emergence of a global multicultural federation which is the envy of traditional insular nation states, now reluctantly acknowledging the peace, order and social organization that Canadians are aiming for and our goals as a global leader. Thank you to the amazing librarians of the Toronto Public Library.
I had no idea how many activities have been organized at local libraries to celebrate this special day. Thank you.
I have unfortunately not had the time to notice the many things mentioned above and July 1st, 2017 would have been my 50th Wedding Anniversary if my first husband, George Nanos were still living. I am spending two hours on the front lawn of my church which is having a country music concert and a barbecue by Michael Wahl, a famous Canadian Newfoundlander/singer, and looking forward to a joyful time spent there. He has invited four of his musical cohorts to join us and it should be a nice neighbourly way to spend the day. Your piece was lovely, Maria and thank you for reminding me to have a look. I haven’t for awhile and that is not healthy.
Carolynne, does that mean you and George got married during the Centennial (i.e., Canada’s 100th birthday)? That must be quite the story!
The country music concert and barbecue sound like a lovely way to spend the day, and I hope you get a chance to stop by some of the Canada 150 events too!
Glad you enjoyed the post and hope you’ll make it out to some of the activities!
Thank you, Xavier. You also make a very good point about the evolution of our country, which is important to always keep in mind.
Maria:
I am blown away with how much effort and work you have put into your blog. It is definitely a great source of information for people to read the many mentioned books and visit the various libraries to enjoy the special events. I was living in England during Canada’s 100th Birthday and visiting relative in Northern Ireland on July 1st,1967. I returned home in October to visit Expos 67 in Montreal.
Betty
I’m trying to figure out what to do for Canada’s 150th. This post has some good information.
Thanks for writing it!
Great article – very informative! Happy 150th Canada!
Thanks Ray. Happy Canada 150!
I think your blog is perfect. This is from one proud Canadian to another.Sincerely Darcy
Thanks, Olivia! Hope you find something awesome to do for Canada 150th!
Thanks for sharing your story, Betty. It’s wonderful how Canada’s 100th Birthday was so memorable that you can say exactly where you were on July 1st, 1967, even when you were out of the country! And thank you for your kind comment about my blog. Hope you have a great Canada 150!
Thanks Darcy! Happy Canada 150!
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