Cottage country is a common name in Ontario , New Brunswick , and other regions of Canada for areas that are popular locations for recreational properties such as cottages and summer homes . Cottage country is often socially, culturally, economically, and politically distinct from other rural areas in that it is populated by a notably higher concentration of urban vacationers and residents who have an affinity for the outdoors, in contrast to more traditional rural populations, which are largely absent of "city folk", but that is less true in Western Canada . Any major population centre may have its own popular "cottage country" area.
41-715: In the Greater Toronto Area, cottage country traffic refers to traffic bound to cottage country on Friday afternoons and returning from it on Sunday afternoons. Cottage country traffic is usually extremely heavy on long weekends, such as Victoria Day in May, Canada Day on the July 1st weekend, Simcoe Day in August, and Labour Day in September, particularly on Highway 400 and Highway 11 . The Ontario media has often referred to these times of
82-400: A levee and military review, banquets, and sporting events. Several different days were used to celebrate a sovereign's birthday. The birth date for George III , June 4, was observed from the late 18th century to decades after his death in 1820. Until the mid-19th century, the monarch's birthday was more of a military occasion than a civil celebration, as it was the day when able-bodied men in
123-512: A day-long fête, including pre-dawn serenades, picnics , athletic competitions, a display of illuminations, a torch-light procession, and a gun salute at midnight. By Canadian Confederation in 1867, Victoria Day celebrations were held in communities in Ontario and Quebec and would later spread to other parts of the country as it expanded . Even as the inhabitants of the Red River Colony , in
164-472: A prescribed day of rest on which retail businesses must be closed ) to mark the reigning sovereign's official birthday. Beginning in the 1920s, French Canadians in Quebec informally called the May holiday Fête de Dollard , after Adam Dollard des Ormeaux , an early colonist of New France . In 2002, the provincial government of Quebec replaced Fête de Dollard with National Patriots' Day , which commemorates
205-676: A resolution inviting the government to replace the traditional holiday with a nationalist one. On 21 November 2001, provincial premier Bernard Landry proposed a motion in the National Assembly of Quebec inviting that body to "underline the importance of the struggle of the Patriots of 1837–1838." An Order in Council was then issued on 20 November the following year, establishing the Journée des patriotes —thenceforth known as National Patriots' Day —as
246-609: A second flag pole exists, as the Royal Union Flag can never displace the national flag ). Several cities hold a parade on the holiday, with the most prominent being that which has taken place since 1898 in the monarch's namesake city of Victoria, British Columbia . In nearby New Westminster , the Victoria Day weekend is distinguished by the Hyack Anvil Battery Salute, a tradition created during colonial times as
287-533: A surrogate for a 21-gun salute : Gunpowder is placed between two anvils, the top one upturned, and the charge is ignited, hurling the upper anvil into the air. Other celebrations include an evening fireworks show, such as that held at Ashbridge's Bay Beach in the east end of Toronto, and at Ontario Place , in the same city. In Ottawa, the traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony takes place on Parliament Hill or occasionally at Rideau Hall . The reviewing officer in
328-515: Is also a mark of the beginning of the cottage season, when cottage owners may reverse the winterization of their property. Gardeners in Canada will similarly regard Victoria Day as the beginning of spring, as it falls at a time when one can be fairly certain that frost will not return until the next autumn. There is also a change in fashion: lighter-coloured summer clothing was traditionally worn from Victoria Day through to Labour Day. The holiday
369-520: Is colloquially known in parts of Canada as "May Two-Four", a double entendre that refers both to the date around which the holiday falls (May 24) and the Canadian slang for a case of twenty-four beers (a "two-four"), a drink popular during the long weekend. The holiday weekend may also be known as the "May long weekend", "May Long", or in Timmins and surrounding areas, "May Run", . The term "Firecracker Day"
410-619: Is entitled to a paid day off generally depends on the province or territory of residence (with the exception of employees in federally regulated workplaces such as banks). The status of Victoria Day in each of the provinces and territories is as follows: It is a general holiday in Alberta , Manitoba , the Northwest Territories , and Yukon and is a statutory holiday in British Columbia , Ontario , and Saskatchewan . Victoria Day
451-720: Is locally understood to be referring to Muskoka , the Kawartha Lakes , or the Haliburton area. On the other hand, a speaker from Ottawa would typically use the same phrase to denote the Rideau Lakes area or parts of the Outaouais . Areas referred to as cottage country include: According to the Realtors' Association of Edmonton official map (2010), the following are resort communities within 100 km of Edmonton (clockwise starting from
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#1732844735209492-404: Is not a paid public holiday but is a government holiday in: Newfoundland and Labrador ; Nova Scotia , where it is also not a designated retail closing day, but is considered a "non-statutory holiday"; and Prince Edward Island , although provincial legislation defines "holiday" to include Victoria Day. In Nunavut and New Brunswick , the date is set as a general holiday (for New Brunswick,
533-640: The Club Souverain de l'Estrie started the movement "For a paid holiday in memory of the Patriots," while other organizations, such as the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of Montreal and the Comité du 15 février 1839 (founded by Pierre Falardeau in 1997 to help finance the movie February 15, 1839 (15 février 1839) ), later joined in the campaign. During the provincial congress of the nationalist Parti Québécois (May 5–7, 2000), party members adopted
574-593: The Fêtes du centenaire de 1837 , in order to commemorate the "struggles of the Patriotes of 1837–1838 for liberty, the national recognition of our people and for democracy." The festivities took place at various sites across the municipality, and some residents produced souvenirs of the event. Beginning in 1962, on the 125th anniversary of the 1837 Rebellions , a public gathering in Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu to mark
615-607: The Senate passed a bill that aimed to fix the Queen's birthday in perpetuity as a holiday in her honour. It was sent to the House of Commons , where it languished as a private member's bill without government support. It was not until after Victoria's death in May 1901 that the Queen's Birthday was made a perpetual statutory holiday by which to remember the late Queen, who was deemed the "Mother of Confederation". Some members of Parliament proposed
656-561: The patriotes of the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837. Canada is the only country that commemorates Queen Victoria with an official holiday. Federal government protocol dictates that, on Victoria Day, the Royal Union Flag is to be flown from sunrise to sunset at all federal government buildings—including airports, military bases, and other Crown owned property across the country—where physical arrangements allow (i.e. where
697-499: The " Victoria Day disaster ". The Point Ellice Bridge disaster occurred in Victoria, British Columbia , on May 26, 1896, when a bridge collapsed under the weight of a streetcar overloaded with passengers on their way to attend Victoria Day celebrations. Most workplaces in Canada are regulated by the provincial or territorial governments. Therefore, although Victoria Day is a statutory holiday for federal purposes, whether an employee
738-465: The 1920s to coincide with Victoria Day. In 2003, provincial legislation officially created National Patriots' Day (French: Journée nationale des Patriotes ) on the same date. Royal birthdays for members of French and British royal families were commemorated in various parts of Canada since the 17th century. These were ad hoc commemorations, rather than holidays enshrined in law. Early commemorations were typically marked by an official ceremony, such as
779-548: The King's official birthday until 1910, when King George V acceded to the throne. From then until 1952, Victoria Day only honoured Queen Victoria's contribution to Canadian Confederation, with the reigning monarch's official birthday typically observed in June, instead. However, for King George VI 's tour of Canada in 1939 , the King's official birthday was changed to May 20, so he could be present for official festivities; still, Victoria Day
820-464: The Monday between the 18th and the 24th (inclusive) and, so, is always the penultimate Monday of May (May 20 in 2024 and May 19 in 2025). Victoria Day is a federal statutory holiday, as well as a holiday in six of Canada's ten provinces and all three of its territories. The holiday has always been a distinctly Canadian observance and continues to be celebrated across the country. It is informally considered
861-461: The ceremony is the monarch, with members of the royal family , the governor general , the minister of national defence, or the chief of the defence staff taking the sovereign's place in their absence. The participating units in the parade include personnel of the Governor General's Foot Guards and The Canadian Grenadier Guards , both of which are part of the ad hoc Ceremonial Guard . Across
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#1732844735209902-613: The colony assembled into their militia units for their compulsory military training, as well as attended reviews and celebrations in commemoration of the monarch. Shortly after the Canadas were united into the Province of Canada , the Parliament sought to create a new public holiday that would form common ground between English and French Canadians , helping them transcend their religious and cultural differences. The birthday of Queen Victoria
943-413: The country, Victoria Day serves as the unofficial marker of the end of the winter social season and, thus, the beginning of the summer social calendar. Banff, Alberta 's Sunshine Village ends its lengthy ski season on Victoria Day and, likewise, it is during this long weekend that many summer businesses—such as parks, outdoor restaurants, bicycle rentals, city tour operators, etc.—will open. Victoria Day
984-627: The date from a military event to a civilian holiday and making it Canada's now-oldest official holiday. On Victoria's 35th birthday, in 1854, some 5,000 residents of Canada West gathered in front of Government House (near present-day King and Simcoe Streets in Toronto ) to "give cheers to their queen". An example of a typical 19th-century celebration of the Queen's birthday took place on May 24, 1866, in Omemee , also in Canada West: The town mounted
1025-496: The east): Further afield: Victoria Day (Canada) Victoria Day (French: Fête de la Reine , lit. 'Celebration of the Queen';) is a federal Canadian public holiday observed on the last Monday preceding May 25 to honour Queen Victoria , who is known as the "Mother of Confederation ". The holiday has existed in Canada since at least 1845, originally on Victoria's natural birthday, May 24. It falls on
1066-419: The holiday keep the name Queen's Birthday , while others proposed changing it to Queen Victoria Day or Victorian Empire Day . The name Victoria Day was selected by Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier , who wanted to avoid an imperialist name that would antagonize French Canadians. The Crown-in-Council, the following year, designated May 24 as the official birthday of King Edward VII . Victoria Day served as
1107-516: The importance of the struggle of the patriots of 1837–1838 for the national recognition of our people, for its political liberty and to obtain a democratic system of government." Before 2003, the Monday preceding 25 May of each year was unofficially the Fête de Dollard , a commemoration initiated in the 1920s to coincide with Victoria Day , a federal holiday occurring annually on the same date. The citizens of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu organized, in 1937,
1148-402: The link was made permanent by royal proclamation . Shortly after Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1898, Clementina Trenholme advocated the creation of Empire Day, a complementary auxiliary event that would occur the weekday before the Queen's Birthday. Empire Day was not intended to be a general holiday like Victoria Day, but, was instead intended to provide schools and civic institutions
1189-665: The opportunity to implement activities and lessons on Canada and the British Empire before the monarch's official birthday. The event was adopted by several schools in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Quebec. May 24 was, by imperial decree in 1904, made Empire Day throughout the British Empire. In 1958, Empire Day was renamed Commonwealth Day. In 1977, the day was moved to the second Monday in March, ending its association as an "opening act" to Victoria Day in Canada. Victoria Day celebrations have been marred by major tragedy at least twice. In 1881,
1230-466: The passenger ferry Victoria overturned in the Thames River near London, Ontario . The boat departed in the evening with 600 to 800 people on board—three times the allowed passenger capacity—and capsized partway across the river, drowning some 182 individuals, including a large number of children who had been with their families for Victoria Day picnics at Springbank Park . The event came to be known as
1271-575: The petition did not get enough traction for any change to occur. National Patriots%27 Day National Patriots' Day ( French : Journée nationale des Patriotes ) is a statutory holiday observed annually in the Canadian province of Quebec , on the Monday preceding 25 May. The holiday was established by the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec - in-Council in 2003, according to the Parti Quebecois premier Bernard Landry : "to underline
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1312-548: The rebellion became an annual event. On 6 October 1982, the so-called Patriots' Day was declared by the Quebec Governor - in-Council as occurring each year on the Sunday closest to 23 November. The desire to see the Journée des patriotes gained a more official character and incited some citizens to campaign for the celebration to be declared a statutory holiday, either as a new holiday or in replacement of an existing one. In 1987,
1353-515: The sand to watch the fireworks display". In 2013, an online petition was circulated to rename the holiday "Victoria and First Peoples Day", to provide Canadians with an opportunity to honour both the Crown and the Indigenous peoples of Canada , which share a relationship . While a group of prominent Canadian actors, authors, and politicians sent the petition to Prime Minister Stephen Harper , in total
1394-475: The start of the summer season in Canada. The same date is also, since 1952, recognized as the currently reigning Canadian monarch 's official birthday (though, previously, that event had been marked in Canada typically on each monarch's actual birthday). In Quebec , before 2003, the Monday preceding May 25 of each year was unofficially the Fête de Dollard , a commemoration of Adam Dollard des Ormeaux , initiated in
1435-416: The summer months. Canadian English has a regional distinction for the name of a summer recreation house. In some areas, "cottage" is used, but in other areas, terms like " cabin ", "camp", "country house", and "bungalow" are preferred. The term cottage country is applied locally in vernacular use. For example, Greater Toronto residents might say, "I am heading up to cottage country this weekend", which
1476-565: The summer, cottage rentals become one of the most popular trips for families and groups alike in Ontario and while Muskoka remains the most popular destination, there are many other locations to rent a cottage in Ontario, including the Kawartha Lakes and the surrounding Kawarthas area, Haliburton , Parry Sound and Lake Simcoe . The District of Muskoka, which encompasses six different municipalities within Cottage Country, sees over 3.2 million visitors annually with many of those visiting during
1517-431: The then-British territory of Rupert's Land , resisted Canadian expansion, clashing with agents of Canada's government in 1869 and 1870 as Canada negotiated the purchase of Rupert's Land from Britain, the Red River Colony's provisional government celebrated Victoria's birthday with a show of skill at the militia's drill. The day had become a "patriotic holiday" by the 1890s. Amid the Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897,
1558-440: The year as a "highway blitz", which also refers to the related Ontario Provincial Police efforts to step up highway enforcement on those congested roads, which often yield record numbers of fines for motor vehicle violations. One of the most well-known areas in Ontario cottage country is Muskoka , with its most famous lakes being the "Big Three" lakes which include Lake Joseph ("Lake Joe"), Lake Muskoka and Lake Rosseau . In
1599-422: Was also once employed in Ontario. A traditional, short song about Victoria Day went as follows: "The twenty-fourth of May / Is the Queen's birthday; / If they don't give us a holiday / We'll all run away!" The holiday is referenced in the song " Lakeside Park " by Canadian rock band Rush , from their 1975 album Caress of Steel . The song features the line, "everyone would gather on the 24th of May, sitting in
1640-416: Was also treated as a day to celebrate the King's birthday. In 1952, the date for Victoria Day was made variable, changing from May 24 to the last Monday before May 25 each year, ensuring that most Canadians would receive a long weekend . The monarch's official birthday in Canada was, by annual viceregal proclamations between 1953 and 1956, made to fall on the same day as Victoria Day. On January 31, 1957,
1681-477: Was selected to be transformed into a public holiday, as it was a date that appealed to both English and French Canadians. At the time, loyalty to the Crown was seen as a key trait that distinguished Canada from the United States and the monarchy was viewed as a "guarantor of minority rights" in the colony. The Queen's birthday was officially designated as a public holiday by legislation passed in 1845, transforming