Today is Canda Day

So, to celebrate, let's all act just like Canadians and be real polite, eh?

Actually, despite what you may have heard, today is not considered Canada Day because the last of the Canadian snow-birds has finally left Florida. Rather, this is the day on which Canadian independence from Great Britain began: On July 1, 1867, Canada became a kingdom in its own right (under the British Crown, of course). The Province of Canada became Ontario and Quebec. The British colonies of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland also became part of the new Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867. (Our crack research staff insists that Canada did not become fully independent of Great Britain until 1982.)

Because Canada Day falls on a Sunday this year, Canada will be closed tomorrow.