Canada Day : What's it all about?

The Canadian flag at Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, BC
Photo by Sue Frause

Being an American, I know what the Fourth of July is all about.

But every year, there it is on my calendar: July 1, Canada Day (Canada).

What's the scoop on this holiday, anyway?

I went straight to Wikipedia, which has a lot of information about the holiday.

I also checked out the Canadian Heritage website:
On June 20, 1868, a proclamation signed by the Governor General, Lord Monck, called upon all Her Majesty's loving subjects throughout Canada to join in the celebration of the anniversary of the formation of the union of the British North America provinces in a federation under the name of Canada on July 1st.The July 1 holiday was established by statute in 1879, under the name Dominion Day.

O Canada!