Canada Day celebrates the creation of the dominion of Canada through the British North America Act on 1 July 1867, uniting three British territories — the Province of Canada (southern Ontario and southern Quebec), Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick — into a federation. (See Canadian Confederation.)
The holiday itself was formally established in 1879 and was originally called Dominion Day, making reference to the Canadian-originated term "dominion" to describe the political union, at a time when the Fathers of Confederation were hesitant to use a name such as the Kingdom of Canada. The name was changed to Canada Day on 27 October 1982, largely harking of the adoption of the earlier Canada Act 1982.
It is a federal holiday celebrated by all provincial governments and most businesses across Canada. Quebec also has Moving Day on 1 July, due to the fact that most leases there begin and end on that day, with many people changing residences. In Newfoundland and Labrador, 1 July is also recognised as Memorial Day and commemorates Newfoundland's heavy losses during World War I in the Battle of Beaumont Hamel as part of the Battle of the Somme.
