Dear friend,

Did you know that Canada Day wasn't always called Canada Day, and that - for a long time - we legally needed permission just to change our country's laws?

With July 1st fresh in our minds, I looked into the holiday’s history, and it turns out it’s been quite a journey:

• July 1, 1867: The British North America Act (today known as the Constitution Act, 1867) created our country by bringing the British colonies of Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick together in the new Dominion of Canada. Among other things, the Act defined the responsibilities of the federal government and those of the individual provincial governments.
• June 20, 1868: Canada's 1st Governor General Lord Monck signed a proclamation that requested all Her Majesty's subjects across the country to celebrate July 1st.
• Dominion Day (1879): In 1879, a federal law made July 1 (the anniversary of Confederation) a statutory holiday called Dominion Day. For over a century, Dominion Day was the name used to commemorate Canada's formation as a dominion.
• Canada Day (1982): A major shift occurred in 1982. The British Parliament passed The Canada Act 1982 at the request of the Canadian Senate and House of Commons, formally granting Canada full sovereignty over its own laws. Before this, Canada's constitution was an act of the British Parliament, meaning that only the U.K. had the legal power to amend or change it. As part of this constitution patriation process, the Canada Act 1982 contained the text for the Constitution Act, 1982, which established a uniquely Canadian amending formula so that future constitutional changes could be made within Canada without British involvement; it also entrenched the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and recognized Indigenous and treaty rights.

Later in 1982, the Canadian government officially renamed the national holiday from Dominion Day to Canada Day by passing a private member's bill to amend the Holidays Act.
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The Life Lesson: Independence is a Journey, Not an Event

Because our country's independence was built patiently over generations, here are 3 suggested action items anyone can do to honor that ongoing journey:

1. Know Your Foundations: Take 10 minutes to review the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Understand the specific rights and responsibilities patriated in 1982 helps ensure we understand our rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression and the right to equality.
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2. Participate in the Ongoing Journey: Canada’s legal and social framework didn't stop evolving in 1982. Because we have the power to shape our own future as a country, we can take ownership of that responsibility. As an individual, you can do this by identifying one local or national issue you care about and writing a brief note to your M.P. or city councillor. True independence involves active, ongoing maintenance.
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3. Actively Steward Your Community: Treat your citizenship (or residency) as an active role rather than a passive privilege. Whether it's supporting a local business, volunteering, or engaging in local government, take one small action this week to strengthen the community those before us built.
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Whether you enjoyed Canada Day at a city event such as a fireworks show or at a gathering with family and/or friends, we can be thankful for the sacrifices made by those who came before us which allow us to have the freedoms and economic opportunities that we experience today.

Thank you for taking the time to read and reflect.

Until next time,
​Alex Rășcanu​
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P.S. If you'd like to read the past life lessons-focused e-newsletters, you can find them here.

P.P.S. See you at one of the upcoming monthly #ExperienceTO historical tours, such as the Long Branch one on Saturday, July 11th.