Every day is ‘Canada Day’ in Ottawa

Canada celebrated its birthday on July 1, marking 159 years since our Confederation of 1867. While it might be considered a ‘young country’ compared to many, the history of Canada runs deep in our nation’s capital. All the way back to time immemorial.

The region is part of the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation, whose communities have lived, travelled, hunted, fished, and cared for these lands for thousands of years as the original stewards of the valley and watershed.

Long before colonization, the Ottawa region was an important place for gathering and trading. In fact, the name ‘Ottawa’ is said to be derived from an Algonquin word that means ‘to trade.’ To the Indigenous peoples of North America, the Ottawa River was one of the most significant travel and trade routes.

Ottawa’s European roots go back to 1826 and the settlement of ‘Bytown,’ established during construction of the Rideau Canal under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel John By. The ambitious plan for a navigable waterway between Lake Ontario and the Ottawa River that would bypass the vulnerable St. Lawrence River was conceived after the War of 1812. The vision was to create a secure military and supply route between Montréal and Kingston.

Bytown grew from a rugged construction camp into a thriving community, eventually becoming incorporated as the City of Ottawa in 1855. Two years later, Queen Victoria chose it to be the capital of the ‘Province of Canada’. And when Canada became its own country in 1867, Ottawa remained the capital — continuing to evolve and develop into the political and cultural heart of the nation that we have come to know today.

In September of 2026, Ottawa will celebrate the 200th anniversary since the founding of Bytown. The bicentennial will highlight the city’s journey, recognize the contributions of multiple generations who laid foundations here, and to acknowledge the Indigenous nations whose history extends back for millennia.

The Indigenous roots in the region are an essential part of Ottawa’s story. Some of the most significant Indigenous sites near present-day Parliament Hill include Chaudière Falls, which was a sacred gathering place for ceremony, trade, and diplomacy long before colonial settlement. While Kiweki Point — formerly known as Nepean Point — overlooks the Ottawa, Rideau, and Gatineau rivers, and features the ‘Great River Man’ sculpture designed to honour First Nations’ connections to the waterways.

In September of 2026, when Ottawa celebrates its 200th anniversary, the pride that many Canadians feel on ‘Canada Day’ will extend beyond July 1. I for one am proud to be Canadian every single day of the year, and to live in a country that recognizes its rich heritage, while celebrating the vibrant diversity that makes Canada what it is today.