As Canada marked its 154th birthday in 2021, the usual patriotic celebrations gave way to quiet reflection and national introspection. Maple News reports that ongoing COVID-19 restrictions and a deep reckoning with the country’s colonial past significantly reshaped Canada Day events. With many provinces still under social distancing protocols, parades, concerts, and public gatherings were cancelled or moved online—making this year’s commemorations more subdued than ever before.
This year’s Canada Day unfolded under the shadow of one of the most painful chapters in the country’s history. The discovery of over a thousand unmarked graves at sites of former residential schools sparked national grief and a wave of calls to reexamine the holiday’s meaning. These findings, including the remains of 215 children in Kamloops, B.C., and hundreds more across Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and British Columbia, have brought renewed urgency to the conversation about reconciliation and justice for Indigenous communities.
Residential schools operated in Canada for more than 150 years, with a goal of forcibly assimilating Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture. Funded by the Canadian government and largely administered by churches, these institutions subjected thousands of children to systemic abuse, neglect, and cultural erasure. Many children never returned home, and their deaths were undocumented until recent ground-penetrating radar searches.
In response, dozens of municipalities across the country cancelled their 2021 Canada Day events. Indigenous groups, including Idle No More, called for the day to be one of mourning—urging Canadians to reflect on the nation’s legacy of colonization. Activists and community members participated in peaceful protests in over 15 cities to honor Indigenous children, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and other vulnerable communities affected by systemic injustice.
While some view cancelling Canada Day as a symbolic first step toward reconciliation, a national poll indicated that the majority of Canadians were not in favor of scrapping the holiday entirely. Nonetheless, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh acknowledged that the day should serve as a time to reflect on the country’s complex and often painful history. Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, however, emphasized the importance of continuing celebrations.
Despite the shifting tone, the federal government maintained a virtual Canada Day program, featuring performances by diverse Canadian artists—including Indigenous voices—broadcast nationally on television and YouTube. Many communities opted for modified, socially distant activities, while others encouraged residents to decorate their homes and celebrate in small groups.
Notably, many Canadians chose to wear orange instead of the traditional red and white, symbolizing solidarity with residential school survivors and a commitment to education, awareness, and action toward reconciliation.
As Canada looks forward, 2021 marked a moment where national pride was tempered with a critical look at the past, inviting citizens to not only celebrate but also confront uncomfortable truths and chart a better path forward together.