Many believe that July 1st signifies the celebration of Canada’s ‘birth certificate’, our original Constitution (aka, The British North America Act). Yet, our own country’s founding document doesn’t seem to have the same cache as what the American Declaration of Independence has to Americans or the Magna Carta has to Britains. Why? Could it be because we don’t have our own original Constitution here in Canada and on public display?

Regular readers of The Canadian Experience are familiar with its purpose and content, a year-long Canadian history/civic literacy series written by some of Canada’s foremost historians, under Jack Granatstein’s editorship, and published in over 70 print/online publications in 24 languages. From this special series, the realization that the BNA Act was housed on foreign soil prompted Lori Abittan, our President and CEO, to launch the BringBackTheAct.ca campaign.

“We are proud Canadians and while many of our citizens were born somewhere else, we have all chosen Canada as our home. It is why we decided to undertake The Canadian Experience and why we have dedicated ourselves to bring the BNA Act home for all Canadians. We all need to understand our country’s history with it peaceful evolution to nationhood to truly appreciate how wonderful and unique Canada really is.” – Lori Abittan

BringBackTheAct.ca is a national campaign intended to gather names to petition Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the British government to allow the original BNA Act to be given to Canada where it will be properly displayed for all Canadians to see. This will be the final action to really “repatriate” our Constitution.  The official press release can be found by clicking here.

Over the coming months, we will post progress updates and provide more information on some of the other people and organizations – Canadians from all walks of life – who are also lending their time and effort to support and participate in this initiative.  Although, one in particular deserves special mention and thanks now:  Canada’s former National Archivist, Ian Wilson, a passionate Canadian and part of our country’s archival community for over three decades … you will likely read much more of him here in the future as the campaign progresses.

So, if you believe that such an important historical document – Canada’s original birth certificate – should be brought back to enable as many Canadians to see it, to experience and learn from it, perhaps this great national holiday could begin with one small, but significant act of participation … we hope you sign the online petition.

Finally, from all of us at The Canadian Experience, we wish you a safe and happy Canada Day.