VICTORIA DAY | Victoria Day - 2006 Victoria Day Canada, Info...

Welcome to Victoria Day...

Victoria Day is the holiday celebrating the birth of Queen Victoria who was born on May 24th. Canadians celebrate Victoria Day on the Monday before May 25th although people in England celebrate it in June. In 2006 Victoria Day will be celebrated on May 22nd. Victoria Day became a popular holiday in Ontario (it was then called Canada West) in 1845. Queen Victoria's birthday, May 24th, was declared a holiday - Victoria Day - by the Legislature of the Province of Canada in 1845. Victoria Day became a national holiday in 1901. Victoria Day has been celebrated in Canada since the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). During the 1900s, Victoria Day used to be called Empire Day & then it changed to Commonwealth Day. Now Canadians call it Victoria Day.

TO STUDENTS writing essays on Victoria Day or Queen Victoria, if you wish to send your essay for free publication on our site please click here. We will be delighted to show it in our 'Young Scholars on Victoria Day' section with your name as the author.

History of Victoria Day
Victoria Day has been celebrated in Canada since May 24 was declared a holiday in 1845. For more information on the history of Victoria Day, please click here

Queen Victoria
Queen VICTORIA (r. 1837-1901) Queen Victoria was born at Kensington Palace, London, on 24 May 1819. She was the only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George III. Queen Victoria's father died shortly after her birth and she became heir to the throne because the three For more on Queen Victoria, please click here: Queen Victoria

Victoria Day honours Victoria, born in 1819, who was queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland as well as empress of India. She was only 18 when she took over the throne in 1837 after her uncle George IV died. She ruled until her death in 1901. Then her son Edward the VII became the King of England.

Historically, after Confederation, Victoria Day was celebrated every year on May 24th unless that date was a Sunday. A proclamation was then issued providing for the celebration of Victoria Day on May 25th. After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, an Act was passed by the Parliament of Canada establishing a legal holiday on May 24th in each year (or May 25th if May 24th fell on a Sunday) under the name Victoria Day.

Victoria Day not only celebrated the birth of Queen Victoria. The birthday of King Edward VII, who was born on November 9, was by yearly proclamation during his reign (1901-1910) celebrated on Victoria Day. It was not an innovation to celebrate the birthday of the reigning sovereign on the anniversary of the birth of a predecessor.

An amendment to the Statutes of Canada in 1952 established the celebration of Victoria Day on the Monday proceeding May 25th. From 1953 to 1956, the Queen's birthday was celebrated in Canada on Victoria Day, by proclamation of the Governor General, with Her Majesty's approval. In 1957, Victoria Day was permanently appointed as the Queen's birthday in Canada.

Canadians love to celebrate Victoria Day. Victoria Day is traditionally marked with fireworks at a variety of venues across the country. Victoria Day is a time for family & friends to get together. Take a boat cruise, plan a picnic in the park, or check out the planned celebrations at local venues. Get out & celebrate Victoria Day!

VICTORIA DAY FIREWORKS take place at 2 locations - at Ashbridges Bay Park and at Ontario Place Toronto.

Victoria Day Fireworks at Ashbridges Bay Park show will take place on Monday, May 22, 2006 at Ashbridges Bay Park. This spectacular event will last a full 14 minutes starting at 9:45 p.m.

A special viewing area for Victoria Day Fireworks has been set aside for people with disabilities and their families, space is limited.

City bylaws strictly prohibit the public from setting off personal fireworks in the park on Victoria Day and at all other times.

Located on Lakeshore Boulevard East and at the foot of Coxwell Avenue, the park is easily accessible by public transit.

Public Transit

For Victoria Day, TTC service will be increased between Queen Street East and the Bloor-Danforth subway on the Coxwell (22A), Main (64) and Woodbine South (92A) routes to handle the more than 80,000 people expected at their favourite Victoria Day event - Victoria Day Fireworks. The city recommends that you leave your cars at home and ride the rocket! For upto date transit info: www.ttc.ca

Driving Directions

For driving directions to Ashbridges Bay Park please use the mapquest link here and type in: 30 Ashbridges Bay Road as your destination. www.mapquest.com

By water

The Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club welcomes fellow sailors from around the globe. If you are sailing into ABYC for the first time, you will find the following information valuable,

For complete and upto date info on the Ashbridge's Bay Yacht Club please click here: http://www.abyc.on.ca/

For Victoria Day Fireworks at Ontario Place Toronto, please click here: Ontario Place