Heritage Day is celebrated on the third Monday in February each year to celebrate Canada's national heritage. In 1973, the initial vision was that Heritage Day would become a statutory holiday celebrated by Canadians across the country. Unfortunately, several attempts at passing legislation have failed. Still, Canadians continue to celebrate this significant day each year. In Ontario, however, we celebrate for an entire week. In step with the nationally recognized day, Ontario celebrates Heritage Week during the third week of February. In addition, each year the Heritage Canada Foundation suggests a national theme – which has varied from transportation and industry to civic and military heritage.
Given its mandate to identify, preserve, protect and promote heritage throughout the province, the Trust chooses a different location for its Heritage Week event every year. This choice may be for geographical or heritage program reasons, but may also be influenced by the theme set for Heritage Day by the Heritage Canada Foundation each year.
Check the current Heritage Week celebration and explore the Community event listings each year to see which museums and historic sites are holding special Heritage Week activities and events. And don't forget to consult your local daily newspapers, community papers or public libraries for listings of events and activities scheduled for Heritage Week. You'll be surprised at what's going on.