Civic Day is a holiday that is not based on any particular historical or religious event. The intent of the Civic Holiday seems simply to be to "not work".
The tradition of a Canadian holiday in the middle of summer dates back to Toronto in 1869. It was formally created in 1875 when the first Monday in August became the August Civic Holiday in Toronto.
By 1939, the holiday had been adopted in cities in Western Canada, including Edmonton and Regina. Eventually, the name changed from "The Public Holiday" to "Civic Day."
During the 20th century, the holiday began to change its identity with many municipalities assigning honorific names to the day to celebrate influential historical figures within their district.
Simcoe Day
In Toronto, the day is also known as Simcoe Day, named in honour of Major General John Graves Simcoe, the founder of York (later known as Toronto) and the first lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada. Toronto City Council designated the first Monday in August as Simcoe Day in 1968.
Simcoe was also a strong supporter of abolition and championed the Act Against Slavery. Elsewhere in Ontario, municipalities adopted other names for the holiday — it's known as Joseph Brant Day in Burlington, Peter Robinson Day in Peterborough, and Colonel By Day in Ottawa — among others.
Colonel By Day
In Ottawa, this day is known as Colonel By Day. It is named after Lieutenant-Colonel John By, an English military engineer, who constructed the Rideau Canal and founded Bytown, which would become the Canadian capital, Ottawa.
By was born on August 7th 1779, which meant the holiday weekend in early August was a suitable date to mark the Colonel's legacy.
John Galt Day
Guelph residents celebrate John Galt Day on the first Monday in August. The Civic Holiday was officially renamed by the city council in 2006 to honour the Royal City’s founder.
Joseph Brant Day
In Burlington, the first Monday in August is known as Joseph Brant Day. Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant was a Mohawk military and political leader, based in present-day New York, who was closely associated with Great Britain during and after the American Revolution.
