British Columbia Day

British Columbia Day

First Monday in August

British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province, joins several other communities in holding a civil holiday on the first Monday in August. For local residents, this day honors the pioneers who established the colony of British Columbia in the 19th century. Although the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia introduced the holiday in 1974, its official status was not ratified until 1996.
There are a number of events that take place in the province's capital, Victoria, but the most popular is the "Symphony Splash," an annual performance of modern and classical music by the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. Held on a barge on the city's Inner Harbor, the concert draws thousands of tourists and locals.

CONTACTS:
British Columbia Protocol and Events Branch
P.O. Box 9422
Stn. Prov. Govt.
Victoria, BC V8W 9V1 Canada
www.protocol.gov.bc.ca

SOURCES:
AnnivHol-2000, p. 145

Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary, Fourth Edition. © 2010 by Omnigraphics, Inc.