The Dominion of Canada

How Canada Became a Country in 1867

As we make our way from Toronto toward Niagara Falls, it’s hard to imagine that Canada hasn’t always been a country.

Canada officially became a nation, The Dominion of Canada, on July 1, 1867.

Before that, what we now call Canada was known as British North America. It was made up of a few separate colonies, the vast lands privately owned by the Hudson’s Bay Company, and the North-Western Territory. Travel between regions was slow, communication was limited, and political cooperation was complicated.

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The Fathers of Confederation

By 1864, several political leaders believed the colonies would be stronger if they united into one country. These men became known as the Fathers of Confederation.

They met, debated, and drafted a constitution for a new nation. That document had to be approved by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, since Britain still governed the colonies at the time.

Once passed, it became law under the name British North America Act (BNA Act).

The Act, largely drafted by John A. Macdonald, who would become Canada’s first prime minister, was signed on May 8 and came into effect on July 1, 1867.

That day is now celebrated every year as Canada Day.

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More Than 36 Fathers/

There were 36 original Fathers of Confederation, though some figures are sometimes added to that list.

For example:

• Hewitt Bernard is considered by some historians to deserve the title.
• Amor De Cosmos helped bring British Columbia into Confederation.
• Joey Smallwood led Newfoundland into Confederation in 1949 and famously called himself “the Last Father of Confederation.”

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The First Four Provinces

Canada didn’t become the country we know overnight. It grew province by province.

At Confederation, the existing United Province of Canada was divided into Ontario and Quebec. Two other colonies , New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, also joined.

That made four original provinces in the new Dominion of Canada.

The BNA Act laid out:

• The structure of the federal government
• The powers of the provinces
• The division of responsibilities between levels of government

It created the foundation of the country we know today.

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A Random Niagara Fact Connection

While this history isn’t something you’ll see out the window on the drive, it helps explain how Ontario, and cities like Toronto and Niagara, became part of a unified country.

These are the kinds of stories we share along the way, adding context to the landscapes you pass before you even reach the Falls.

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