British Columbia Day

British Columbia is the westernmost province of Canada, located between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. British Columbia became the sixth province of Canada in 1871. Its capital is Victoria and its largest city is Vancouver.  The province has a resource dominated economy which is centered on the forestry industry. In the first quarter of 2017, British Columbia has a population of over 4.7 million.

In 1974, with the aim to create a statutory holiday and recognize the pioneers in the province, the British Columbia Day Act was first introduced to the Legislative Assembly. The act gained royal assent in 1996 giving way to the British Columbia Day celebration every first Monday of August. British Columbia was the last province to establish an August Monday holiday. This yearly statutory holiday in the province gives Canadians the chance to celebrate with family and friends. This year, British Columbia Day falls on August 7.

During the long weekend, people grab the chance to make short trips out of town and spend time into one of the areas with beautiful scenery in the province. Some of the activities people do during the long weekend are camping, walking on the parks, hiking or canoeing. The first Monday in August falls in the middle of the summer season that is why people incorporate the holiday into their summer vacation. In most urban areas, various celebrations are organized which features fireworks displays, parades and cultural festivals. Events are held in appreciation of Canadian’s contributions in the areas of sport, technology, cuisine and Canadian-Japanese culture.