MARILYN CORNWELL: June 28 - What's in a name

Celebrating Canada Day 2020 is different. We are allowed to have private fireworks. How many people can join together to enjoy them? Not too many.

We have our federated nature that creates distinctions for its celebration. Even Wikipedia says: "There doesn't seem to be a central recipe for how to celebrate it—chalk it up to the nature of the federation."

What else does Wikipedia say? Canada Day is the anniversary of one important national milestone on the way to the country's full independence, namely the joining on July 1, 1867, of the colonies of Canada (Ontario and Quebec), Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into a wider British federation of four provinces."

I would revise that: in 1867 it became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain and a federation of four provinces. That word 'dominion' has been strong for a long time. Canada Day was celebrated as Dominion Day for a long time. We might remember when Dominion Day became a Canada-wide celebration day - that was Prime Minister John Diefenbaker's doing in 1958.

In 1967 we began giving grants and aid to cities across the country to fund celebrations for the big centenary celebrations. But it was still Dominion Day. It took some failed attempts and then a private member's bill in the early 1980s to get the official change to Canada Day. That seems so unifying. We do remain a federation with noticeable regional differences, and almost a million First Nations people in 634 communities (who are likely not about to celebrate July 1st).

Back to 2020, the celebrations are virtual this year. This is what Ottawatourism says on how to get the most out of your Canada Day 2020, no matter where you are:

Celebrate within your social bubble at home and by downloading a free Celebration Kit;
Watch the Canada Day Daytime Show (link is external) at 1:00 p.m. and Canada Day Evening Show (link is external) at 8:00 p.m. featuring special guests and Canadian artists;
If you’re in Ottawa, consider visiting an outdoor patio (contact venues directly to confirm they’re open on Canada Day), or get out and explore the outdoors on foot or by bike;
Enjoy virtual fireworks (link is external) at 10:00 p.m.

our picture today shows what is abundant in Niagara right now. Roses, roses! This is the corner of Gregory Road North and the North Service Road in St. Catharines - and one of this year's Bakker's rose growing fields. Can you imagine living in this house? The scent would be a life experience - the tourism ads might be: Come to Niagara for the smell!