Canada Day celebrations “reflect the currents” of big issues at points in time: historian

Canada Day 2026 celebrations at the Alberta legislature. (Miriam Valdes-Carletti/CTV News Edmonton)

Edmontonians clad in red, white and a couple rain drops were out across the city to celebrate Canada Day.

In a time of separation debates, many say their dedication to the holiday is a pushback against Alberta independence.

“As an Albertan and a proud Canadian, I am embarrassed about the separation talk in Alberta,” Michael O’Neill said. He was one of hundreds celebrating the nation’s birthday outside the Alberta legislature.

Others look to acknowledge the diversity that made Canada what it is today. Only a few years ago, some wrote off the national celebration entirely out of respect for what Indigenous people endured throughout Canada’s history.

On Wednesday, some celebrations melded the two: Indigenous drumming and other cultural celebrations looked to acknowledge the full picture.

Stacy Lorenz, a history professor at the University of Alberta Augustana campus, says celebrating Canada Day often “reflects the currents” of pressing societal issues. This year, for Albertans, that’s likely the looming fall referendum on immigration, constitution and separation questions.

Lorenz says the ongoing debate of Alberta’s independence may have overshadowed certain reconciliation movements, but supporting Indigenous rights by celebrating the nation could become a Canada Day talking point as First Nations fight the possibility of separation eroding federal treaty rights.

“I think that there’s no question that Indigenous people in Alberta have been dismissed largely on the separatist side … They have legitimate right to say … They want to still be part of Canada, that Canada is the government that Indigenous people want to deal with, not a separate country that is Alberta,” Lorenz said.

He also says celebration is often just a manifestation of community.

“Whether it’s Canada Day or previously Dominion Day, or even the May long weekend, that’s another expression of identity. Those days, even going back to the 19th century, are expressions of local community, national community, perhaps empire,” he said. “These holidays have always consistently been within Canada, even before we had the country of Canada, officially.”

He also believes Canada’s participation and somewhat unprecedented success in the FIFA World Cup has lended itself to more lively celebrations.

“Some of our strongest expressions of Canadian nationalism and collective identity, our shared history, our shared experience as Canadians are expressed through major sporting events … If they win one more round and move on into that top eight, I think that will really capture Canadians at a high degree.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Miriam Valdes-Carletti