📅 Days in Canada

One page for the whole Canadian calendar: today's moment in our history, the dates we love, and every holiday and observance worth circling. Federal and widely observed dates; provincial days vary, because of course they do.

From the calendar: November 12

1931: Maple Leaf Gardens opens

Conn Smythe's new arena opens in Toronto, built in under six months in the middle of the Great Depression. The Chicago Black Hawks spoil the party, beating the Leafs 2-1 in the first game, but the Leafs get the last laugh and win the Stanley Cup that same season.

Sources: NHL.com, Wikipedia, Canadian History Ehx

Dates we love

Feb 15, 1965

The maple leaf flag flies for the first time on Parliament Hill.

March 1876

In Brantford, Ontario, now proudly "the Telephone City", Alexander Graham Bell's telephone work changed how the whole world says hello.

Apr 12, 1980

Terry Fox dips his artificial leg in the Atlantic at St. John's and begins the Marathon of Hope. He ran a marathon a day, for 143 days.

Jul 1, 1867

Confederation: the very first Canada Day. Population: about 3.4 million. Moose: unbothered.

Summer 1921

In a Toronto lab, Banting and Best isolate insulin, one of the greatest medical breakthroughs of the century, made in Canada.

Sep 28, 1972

With 19 seconds left, Paul Henderson scores THE goal against the Soviets. If you know, you know. Ask your dad where he was.

Dec 21, 1891

Naismith's first basketball game, played in Springfield with a soccer ball and two peach baskets. The janitor had to climb a ladder to get the ball out. Every time.

Holidays coming up

Wed, Nov 11, 2026

Remembrance Day

Lest we forget. Poppies on, two minutes of silence at 11am.

Fri, Dec 25, 2026

Christmas Day Statutory

Turkey, tourtière, and the annual debate about whether the tree comes down before New Year's.

Sat, Dec 26, 2026

Boxing Day Statutory in Ontario & federally

Leftovers, hockey, and sales that used to mean something.

2027: The Year Ahead

Fri, Jan 1, 2027

New Year's Day Statutory

Home of the polar bear dip: in the water, regret everything, do it again next year.

Mon, Feb 15, 2027

Family Day Ontario + several provinces

A February long weekend invented because February needed one. Skating, skiing, or strategic couch time.

Fri, Mar 26, 2027

Good Friday Statutory

The quiet start to the Easter weekend.

Mon, May 24, 2027

Victoria Day Statutory

The May Two-Four: cottages open, gardens go in, blackflies RSVP yes.

Thu, Jul 1, 2027

Canada Day Statutory

The big one. Flags, fireworks, and at least one neighbour's legendary barbecue.

Mon, Aug 2, 2027

Civic Holiday Most provinces

It has a different name almost everywhere and nobody can fully explain it. A day off is a day off.

Mon, Sep 6, 2027

Labour Day Statutory

The unofficial end of summer. One last swim.

Thu, Sep 30, 2027

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Federal

Orange Shirt Day. A day to listen, learn, and remember.

Mon, Oct 11, 2027

Thanksgiving Statutory

The correct Thanksgiving, a month early and with better pie timing. (We said what we said.)

Thu, Nov 11, 2027

Remembrance Day

Lest we forget.

Sat, Dec 25, 2027

Christmas Day Statutory

And the wheel turns again.

Proudly Unofficial 🫎

Thu, May 20, 2027

National Caesar Day

The Thursday before Victoria Day weekend, honouring Canada's cocktail (Calgary, 1969). A drink with a snack on top is peak Canadian engineering.

Every Sunday in fall

Terry Fox Run season September

Communities across the country run, walk, and wheel for cancer research, continuing Terry's Marathon of Hope.

First snowfall

First Snowfall Betting Day Unofficially official

Every Canadian workplace runs this pool. Moose Mail's official position: it snows earlier than you think, every single year.

Spotted a date we missed? Tell the Moose.

Never miss a Canadian holiday (or a ruling) 🫎

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