Welcome to our celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday — a special section made possible by you, our readers.
We asked for stories of families, of memories and more. Our thinking was to mark the sesquicentennial of the Dominion of Canada with personal accounts, and our readers came through. We received far more submissions than we could use in this section, but most of them will make it into print before this year ends.
Our dominion came into being on July 1, 150 years ago. The creation of the new country was watched with interest — and some resentment — in Victoria, because there was a feeling that if we were not part of the new union, we would be swallowed up by the United States.
We finally became part of Canada on July 20, 1871, which means that another celebration is just four years away.
It is also important to note that while the creation of Canada might have seemed like a big deal to many residents of the new country, it was just one element of the story of North America.
Our 150 years is only part of a history that stretches back thousands of years, long before the arrival of non-indigenous people.
Let’s hope that Canada’s birthday will spark a new interest in our history, a history that is more inclusive.
The Times Colonist has been telling the story of Canada since its very beginning. Our roots are in the British Colonist, founded by Amor De Cosmos in 1858, long before the negotiations designed to bring about Confederation reached their successful conclusion.
The story of Canada to 1951, as told in the pages of this newspaper, is available for free. Just go to our online archive, britishcolonist.ca. It is also a great source of family history information, including news stories, obituaries, advertisements and more.
Another free resource worthy of note, since it has only been online for a couple of days, is an archive of old Beaver magazines, available at canadashistory.ca. The magazine evolved from a Hudson’s Bay Co. staff publication in 1920 to one that has brought history to the masses.
Some of my own ancestors arrived in Upper Canada, which evolved into Ontario, in the 1820s. Others arrived in Canada a century later.
My ancestors, and yours and yours, came to this land to escape persecution, or to find freedom or economic opportunity.
They helped build this country, and they helped shape it into one of the most welcoming, inclusive nations on Earth.
Every Canada Day gives a chance to honour the rich history of this country, and consider what must still be done.
This Canada Day is special, marking as it does a milestone.
We can look back and consider how our nation has changed since 1967, our centennial year.
Although the words of Chief Dan George, in his Lament for Confederation 50 years ago, still ring too true, there should be no doubt that attitudes in Canada are changing, and for the better.
This weekend, let’s celebrate.
Happy Canada Day.