Wednesday July 1, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Canada Day on July 1. That’s today!
People will be celebrating across the country– out in community at events, with family and friends, or just relaxing at home.
Weather for the Greater Victoria area today is forecast as a high of 17°C and partly cloudy but almost no likelihood of rain. A long bright day, with sunrise at about 5:15 am and sunset not until about 9:19 pm.
Elected officials at local events:
Most MP’s, MLA’s and mayors will be out and about on Wednesday July 1, meeting with constituents, making speeches, cutting cakes and showing leadership on an important national day.
Victoria MP Will Greaves will be at a few public events, including giving a speech in Victoria at the Inner Harbour festivities there, and participating in an event closer to the Saanich Peninsula.
Jeff Kibble, MP for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford will be spending the day on the east side of the island, meeting folks at four events or more in the Cobble Hill / Duncan side of the large riding. The locations are posted on his constituency website.
Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke MP Stephanie McLean will be at a few locations this Canada Day in her riding that includes Colwood and View Royal (today along with MLA Darlene Rotchford and Mayor Sid Tobias) as well as Esquimalt, Sooke, and parts of Saanich.
Across Vancouver Island and across Canada, check the website of your local MP, MLA or municipality to find out where events are being held this Canada Day.
See: Event Calendar for Greater Victoria area
A day off to start summer:
Canada Day is for sure the start of summer time-off for many people. Spring festivities and graduation season are now done.
The safe Canadian lifestyle offers choice, peace and the opportunity to provide direct input to the elected officials who make decisions which impact all of our lives or just spend the day relaxing outdoors.
Many of the free community events are paid for with your tax dollars… open to everyone, and a chance to meet your local elected representatives.
Prime Minister Carney:
Under the Liberal government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, Canada is in a new development phase of building big things.
Carney will celebrate Canada Day in Ottawa (delivering remarks at the national Canada Day ceremony, at 12 noon ET / 9 am PT).
Then he will head out to Edmonton to deliver remarks at a local Canada Day community celebration (6:30 pm MT / 5:30 pm PT).
Prime Minister Mark Carney announces the National Electricity Strategy on May 14, 2026 in Ottawa. [livestream]
July 1 is the deadline for Alberta to present their plans for a pipeline to the BC coast.
On or about July 2, Carney will make an announcement with BC Premier David Eby about equalization payments for BC; Eby is returning early from a trade mission in China to be back in Canada on or about July 2 for that announcement.
159 years:
This is Canada’s 159th birthday. The Constitution Act, 1867 (originally known as the British North American Act) was signed on July 1, 1867.
That in the last year or two, the fight for sovereignty (in the face of US-threats) is in part a reminder of how Canada was formed in the first place by wanting to be distinct from the United States.
We are a multi-cultural mosaic here, not a melting pot. It’s imperfect, but many people struggle to get to Canada as their new home, and most Canadians still seem to want to try and make things better in the Canadian way.
See the History of Canada Day.
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