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Or sign-in if you have an account.The Canadian flag flies atop the Peace Tower on Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings. POSTMEDIA NEWS ARCHIVES Photo by Errol McGihon /Errol McGihonThis Canada Day, let’s celebrate our great nation unequivocally without the obligatory nod to guilt and grievance. We have just one day a year dedicated to the celebration of the free, democratic, tolerant country our predecessors built for us, and plenty of other days each year to focus on the endless social justice causes favoured by politicians on the left.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorWe live in a beautiful country forged by generations who tamed a vast and unforgiving land, gave their lives in defence of freedom, built prosperous communities and established the stable democratic institutions we take for granted today. Millions of prospective newcomers seek to come here every year for refuge, for opportunity, for the promise of a better life.This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againYet, our political leaders seem incapable of saying “Happy Canada Day” without an accompanying diatribe condemning our past.B.C. Premier David Eby’s most recent Canada Day statement in 2025 couldn’t help but refer to our “troubled and complicated history” and referenced Canada Day as “ an opportunity for reflection on the impact of colonialism on generations of Indigenous Peoples.” His 2024 statement bemoaned that “Canada’s historical wrongs against Indigenous Peoples make today difficult for many.” And in 2023, he lectured that Canada Day is “an opportunity to acknowledge the impact Canada’s colonial history has had on generations of Indigenous people.”While this doesn’t come as a surprise from a Premier who has lamented B.C. as a “colonial mistake,” whose government describes the phrase “British Columbians” as exclusionary, and whose MLAs refer to non-Indigenous Canadians as “uninvited guests,” he is hardly alone in tying our one day of national celebration to guilt-laden reprimands.Our museums, the bodies responsible for quite literally telling our story as a country, have long contemplated scrapping Canada Day celebrations altogether.The B.C. Museums Association explains: “Questioning colonial narratives and seeking to respond to the needs of Indigenous, racialized, and marginalized communities applies not only to Canada Day but to the majority of statutory holidays in Canada as well.”They helpfully provide a multi-step explainer on “How Museums Can Support Reflection, Reconciliation and Redress on July 1st.” Step 1: “Take action on reconciliation and decolonize your space;” Step 2: “Acknowledge your role as a settler;” and so on.The Association even warns against flying the maple leaf itself: “The Canadian flag is a symbol that holds different meanings for different people. What can represent freedom for some can represent oppression for others.” Thus, “If you are going to use symbols like the Canadian flag to decorate your site, reflect on the different — and often conflicting — meanings this symbol can have and how its use might exclude participation from certain groups and individuals.”Again, perhaps not a surprise from a provincially and federal-funded organization that recognizes they are “uninvited guests on this territory” and that their “affiliates occupy the ceded, unceded, and sovereign territories of Nations across what is referred to as British Columbia.”The B.C. Teachers’ Federation, whose members are responsible for educating our children, skips Canada Day altogether; their 2025-26 Social Justice Calendar identifies July 1 as “Land Back Day.” The sold-out(!) calendar no doubt adorns the walls of countless classrooms around British Columbia.The reality is, Canada Day is just one day. And there are at least 150 different cultural events, commemorations and social justice initiatives spanning close to 300 days of the year. One need only consult the B.C. government’s “Inclusive Calendar Guide” for schools (which comes complete with a trigger warning) to get a sense of the sheer number of days set aside to focus on everything other than celebrating Canada.Dates include the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Moose Hide Campaign Day, National Day of Action to Honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Trans and 2-Spirited, Red Dress Day, Bear Witness Day, Indigenous Heritage Month, National Indigenous People’s Day, and International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.There’s also Bi+ Visibility Day, International Pronouns Day, 2SLGBTQ+ Spirit Day, International Day of LGBTQIA People in STEM, Transgender Day of Remembrance, No Name Calling Week, Pink Triangle Day, Pink Shirt Day, International Transgender Day of Visibility, International Day of Pink, 2SLGBTQ+ Day of Silence, International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, Pride Season, and International Non-Binary People’s Day.And then there’s Multiculturalism Week, International Migrants Day, World Day of Social Justice, Zero Discrimination Day, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Anti-Racism Awareness Week, World Refugees Day, Canadian Multiculturalism Day, and countless other days and months dedicated to various cultural and religious events.As an aside, the Inclusive Calendar Guide instructs schools to not only “ensure that significant dates of social justice and anti-racism recognition are included,” but to consider the impact of “fun” days like “school spirit days” and “crazy hair day” as these days may “reinforce exclusionary norms.”We have so much to celebrate about Canada, and just one day each year dedicated to doing so. Let’s champion the successes of our history, recognize the vision of our founders, honour the sacrifices of those who fought for us, appreciate the common decency of our people, rejoice in the beauty of our surroundings, and leave the guilt and grievance for another day.Caroline Elliott is a B.C.-based policy advocate and advisor. She has a PhD in Canadian government and democratic theory. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.