civic holiday canada? what is itFollow

It's canadian labor day. Simply, just a day to celebrate canadian workers.

from http://www.canada-city.ca/holiday.php?day=4

Information About Civic Holiday:
Civic Holiday in Canada. The intent of the Civic Holiday is to "not work". So please don't work on Civic Holiday! In Canada Civic Holiday is in most cases the first Monday of August unless another civil or provincial holiday exists on a different date, in which case the local holiday is used.

Civic Holiday in Canada is not statutory holiday. A bill has been attempted to be passed in the house of commons but it has always been unsuccessful. If an employer wants you to work, it is a work day.

What you will often find, however, is that its name Civic Holiday changes from province to province, and even amongst different regions within provinces in Canada. This tells us that Civic Holiday is not as important as some other holidays, but still it is celebrated as a statutory Canadian holiday.

Unlike in Canada, Civic Holiday in United States (US) is called Labor Day.

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From http://www.globalseek.net/CoNTiNeNTs/NAMeRiCa/CaNaDa/HoLiDaYs/civic.html

The first Monday in August is a holiday across Ontario. But the holiday is called different things in different areas.

In fact, the first Monday in August is a municipal holiday *. The Civic Holiday is not designated as an official statutory holiday by provincial legislation **. In the past few years, a number of private member's bills on this topic have been introduced in Ontario, none has passed to date.

The concept of a midsummer holiday in Toronto dates as far back as 1869. In Toronto today, the holiday is celebrated as Simcoe Day. While other Ontario municipalities have chosen to honour a significant local person or organization to help focus the celebration (see a selection in the chronology below), in most municipalities the day is referred to as the August Civic Holiday.

In most of the rest of Canada a holiday is celebrated on the first Monday in August; the exceptions being Newfoundland, Quebec and the Yukon Territory.



The table below presents a selection of events in the history of the August Civic Holiday in Ontario.



1869

Toronto City Council originated a midsummer holiday for a "day of recreation".

1871

A Bank Holiday was established by the House of Commons in England. Sir John Lubbock declared that Toronto in Canada had found an August holiday "advisable and satisfactory".

1875

Perhaps after the precedent set by Sir John Lubbock, Toronto City Council fixed the first Monday in August as a Civic Holiday.

1968

Toronto City Council officially called the civic holiday "Simcoe Day" after John Graves Simcoe, who was appointed the first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada on September 12th, 1791. He convened the first legislative assembly and established York (now Toronto) as the capital of the province.

1980

Burlington celebrates the holiday as "Joseph Brant Day". Joseph Brant was a Mohawk Chief who became known for his treaty negotiations and loyalty to the British.

1982

The City of Brantford adopted a policy that stated that the civic holiday be named "Founders' Day". Each year, the Brantford Heritage Committee submits a report to City Council with the name or organization that is to be recognized on that day.

1983

Oshawa City Council passed a resolution to recognize the holiday as "McLaughlin Day" in honour of the late Colonel R.S. McLaughlin, who brought General Motors to Oshawa. See Parkwood Estate and Oshawa - still motoring after 75 years.

1996

The City of Ottawa passed a by-law proclaiming the Civic Holiday as Colonel By Day. John By (1779-1836) was a British Lieutenant-Colonel and military engineer. His most noteworthy achievement was the building of the Rideau Canal and Bytown (now Ottawa) was named after him.

1998

Sarnia City Council passed a resolution declaring the holiday Alexander McKenzie Day. Alexander Mackenzie was the second Canadian Prime Minister from 1873-1878.

1999

The Town of Cobourg proclaimed the holiday as James Cockburn Day". James Cockburn was a father of Confederation and represented the riding of Northumberland West in the Legislative Assembly of Canada, 1861-67.

Maybe 51/49

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