Caroline Elliott: For Canada Day, give the ‘decolonize’ nonsense a rest

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Again, perhaps not a surprise from a provincially and federal-funded organization that recognizes they are “uninvited guests on this territory” and that their “affiliates occupy the ceded, unceded, and sovereign territories of Nations across what is referred to as British Columbia.”

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The B.C. Teachers’ Federation, whose members are responsible for educating our children, skips Canada Day altogether; their 2025-26 Social Justice Calendar identifies July 1 as “Land Back Day.” The sold-out(!) calendar no doubt adorns the walls of countless classrooms around British Columbia.

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The reality is, Canada Day is just one day. And there are at least 150 different cultural events, commemorations and social justice initiatives spanning close to 300 days of the year. One need only consult the B.C. government’s “Inclusive Calendar Guide” for schools (which comes complete with a trigger warning) to get a sense of the sheer number of days set aside to focus on everything other than celebrating Canada.

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Dates include the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Moose Hide Campaign Day, National Day of Action to Honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Trans and 2-Spirited, Red Dress Day, Bear Witness Day, Indigenous Heritage Month, National Indigenous People’s Day, and International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

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There’s also Bi+ Visibility Day, International Pronouns Day, 2SLGBTQ+ Spirit Day, International Day of LGBTQIA People in STEM, Transgender Day of Remembrance, No Name Calling Week, Pink Triangle Day, Pink Shirt Day, International Transgender Day of Visibility, International Day of Pink, 2SLGBTQ+ Day of Silence, International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, Pride Season, and International Non-Binary People’s Day.

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And then there’s Multiculturalism Week, International Migrants Day, World Day of Social Justice, Zero Discrimination Day, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Anti-Racism Awareness Week, World Refugees Day, Canadian Multiculturalism Day, and countless other days and months dedicated to various cultural and religious events.

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As an aside, the Inclusive Calendar Guide instructs schools to not only “ensure that significant dates of social justice and anti-racism recognition are included,” but to consider the impact of “fun” days like “school spirit days” and “crazy hair day” as these days may “reinforce exclusionary norms.”

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We have so much to celebrate about Canada, and just one day each year dedicated to doing so. Let’s champion the successes of our history, recognize the vision of our founders, honour the sacrifices of those who fought for us, appreciate the common decency of our people, rejoice in the beauty of our surroundings, and leave the guilt and grievance for another day.

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Caroline Elliott is a B.C.-based policy advocate and advisor. She has a PhD in Canadian government and democratic theory.

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