CANADA DAY VOCABULARY (ESL)

level: Beginner/Intermediate (A2/B1)

Canada Day is celebrated on July 1st and marks the anniversary of Canadian Confederation in 1867. This exercise covers vocabulary related to Canada Day and Canadian identity.

READY TO PRACTICE? LET’S GO!

1. Canada Day, celebrated on July 1st, is Canada's national holiday. It marks the anniversary of Canada's becoming a self- (government/governing) country.✓

2. Most Canadians get a day (out/off) work on Canada Day.✓

3. All across Canada, there are various patriotic events and (outer/outdoor) activities.✓

4. The holiday (once/used) to be called "Dominion Day", but the name was changed to Canada Day in 1982.✓

5. Many new immigrants are (sworn/taken) in as Canadian citizens on this day.✓

6. Symbols of Canadian (identity/identical) - the Canadian flag and the maple leaf - can be seen everywhere on this day, and people often decorate their houses (and faces) in the colors of the Canadian flag (red and white).✓

7. There are fireworks displays all over the country, but the biggest display (and the biggest party) is in the (capital/capitol), Ottawa.✓

8. Another good way to spend Canada Day is by attending one of the many outdoor concerts that are (held/placed) in many different cities.✓

9. This is the biggest day of celebration for most Canadians, and many people either ✓

(throw/make) big parties on this day, or attend a public (even/event) like a festival, carnival, etc.
✓

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Canada Day Conversation Questions 1. What do you know about Canada? What is the first thing that comes to mind?
2. Have you ever been to Canada? What was it like, or what would you most like to see there?
3. How does your country celebrate its national day? How does it compare to Canada Day?
4. What do you think makes a country's national identity strong?
5. Canada is officially bilingual (English and French). What do you think about countries having more than one official language?
6. What Canadian things (food, culture, people) are you familiar with?

Did you know? Canada Day commemorates the Constitution Act of 1867 (originally called the British North America Act), which united the provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into a single dominion within the British Empire. It was originally called Dominion Day until 1982, when it was renamed Canada Day.

Canada is the second-largest country in the world by total area, but has one of the lowest population densities of any nation. The name Canada is thought to come from the Huron-Iroquois word kanata, meaning "village" or "settlement."