Since 1894, the first Monday in September has been the official Labour Day holiday in Canada, and since 1892 in the United States. However, the origins of Labour Day can be traced back over 150 years, when unions began holding parades and rallies in Toronto and Ottawa to commemorate the successful 1872 Toronto printers’ strike – the original “fight for fairness” that resulted in major changes, including the decriminalization of unions in Canada.
For children in Canada and the United States, Labour Day marks the unofficial end of summer and the start of a new school year. It is a day of rest for unions and labour activists, as well as a day to celebrate the labour movement’s achievements and the benefits of having a union at work.
Every year on the first Monday of September, Canadians celebrate Labour Day.
To mark the occasion, we ask that you to take a fun quiz and learn a little something about Labour Day.
Early next month Canadians will be celebrating the Civic Holiday, August 7th 2023!
Established in 1875, the Civic Holiday falls on the first Monday of August, giving Canadians an extra day to kickstart their summer vacations. However, the significance of the Civic Holiday varies across provinces and municipalities, and not all employers observe it. It can represent a celebration of individual provinces, honor national icons like Terry Fox or John Simcoe, or serve as a Cultural Heritage Day.
Curious to learn more about the diverse meanings of the Civic Holiday? Take our quiz and uncover fascinating insights into its history, regional variations, and cultural significance. Test your knowledge and discover how Canadians across the country celebrate this special day.
Welcome to Tuesday Trivia! Where you can tackle questions on varying subjects about the city of Niagara Falls and surrounding region. We want to challenge your knowledge of our city with a series of multiple choice questions.
June 18th, 2023 is the 211th Anniversary
Today’s topic is Niagara and the War of 1812….let’s go!
“Victoria Day” is a significant annual celebration in Canada that commemorates the birthday of Queen Victoria, who was born on May 24th, 1819. It is observed on the last Monday before May 25th every year. The holiday was established in 1901, after the demise of Queen Victoria when it was officially made into a holiday by law.
Before 1952, the holiday was celebrated on the actual date of May 24th, but it was later extended to become a long weekend holiday. This meant that the first Monday before May 25th became the official day to observe Victoria Day, giving Canadians a three-day weekend to enjoy. This change in date coincided with the transition of Victoria Day from a formal commemoration of Queen Victoria’s birthday to a day that marks the start of summer, also known as the May Two-Four weekend.
Some Canadians like to refer to the May Two-Four weekend as a way to pay homage to the queen’s birthday, as “two-four” is Canadian slang for a case of 24 beers. This year, the May Two-Four weekend falls on Monday, May 22nd, which signifies the beginning of the summer season for many Canadians. As such, it is a time for Canadians to enjoy the warm weather, indulge in outdoor activities, and spend time with family and friends.
Victoria Day Events:
Victoria Day Weekend Fireworks Returning to Niagara Falls for Victoria Day, you can now see the full array of colorful explosions in the sky above Niagara Falls. The fireworks will kick off on Friday, May 19th at 10:00 pm and then continue nightly straight through to Monday, October 9th!
Victoria Day Illumination The Falls will be illuminated in a shade of Purple on Victoria Day; Sunday, May 22nd, 2023 starting from 10:00PM at the top of the hour every 15 minutes. Click here to see the current Niagara Falls Illumination Schedule.
Watch it here below:
Queen Victoria Park in Niagara Falls
Queen Victoria Park was official opened on Victoria Day – May 24th, 1888. The park spanned a 155 acres at this time from the base of Clifton Hill to Dufferin Islands.
Date: 1896. Author: Copp, Clark Co. Ltd., Lith, Toronto
Queen Victoria Park is the largest park area located in Niagara Falls, Canada facing the American and Horseshoe Falls. Formalized in 1885 by the Niagara Falls Park Act and opened in 1888, the park is managed by the Niagara Parks Commission and is considered a focal point in Niagara Falls tourism. Queen Victoria Park is known for its exceptional floral displays of many different flower species and carpet bed designs.
Some Interesting Queen Victoria and Victoria Day Facts
Victoria Day is the oldest state holiday of Canada and it is the only country to honour Queen Victoria with an official holiday.
Victoria was the first Queen of Canada, when the country was founded in 1867.
Victoria Day marks the beginning of summer season for many Canadians.
Victoria, British Columbia is named after Queen Victoria.
Queen Victoria was Canada’s sovereign at the time of Confederation in 1867. The fathers of Confederation could not create the new country without her royal assent. She is also credited with turning Ottawa into the nation’s capital a decade earlier.
All federal governed buildings and organizations will close for the day
Queen Victoria was the longest sitting sovereign in history who kept her seat on the throne for 63 years 216 days.
Until 2003, the day was called Fete de Dollard in Quebec. Now it is celebrated as National Patriots’ day.
Queen Victoria became queen at the age of 18. She was a successor of William IV.
Federal protocol dictates that the Royal Union Flag should be flown at all federal government building from sun up until sun down.
Celebration of Victoria Day is a Canadian tradition and does not exist in most of England. That being said, it is celebrated in some parts of Scotland, where it’s observed on the Monday before May 24.
Queen Victoria married her first cousin Prince Albert and because of her position she proposed to him.
Niagara Falls, the picturesque location that has captivated the hearts of tourists and visitors from around the globe, offers an enchanting experience that stays etched in one’s memory forever. To truly capture the essence of this stunning city, we have compiled a collection of unforgettable Niagara Falls quotes that perfectly encapsulate the magic of the Falls.
These Niagara Falls quotes convey the raw and natural beauty of the roaring waters and the awe-inspiring views of the surrounding landscape. They capture the exhilarating feeling of being close to one of nature’s most magnificent wonders and showcase the range of emotions that visitors experience as they stand in the presence of the Falls.
From inspiring quotes that speak to the power of nature’s majesty, to insightful quotes that describe the profound impact of Niagara Falls on people’s lives, our collection of Niagara Falls quotes is a tribute to the enduring fascination that this destination holds for all who visit. So come, let us take a journey through these words that capture the spirit of Niagara Falls and transport you to this extraordinary place.
“It’s Niagara Falls. It’s one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world. Who wouldn’t want to walk across it?”
— Nik Wallenda
“All trembling, I reached the Falls of Niagara, and oh, what a scene! My blood shudders still, although I am not a coward, at the grandeur of the Creator’s power; and I gazed motionless on this new display of the irresistible force of one of His elements.”
— John James Audubon
“We have many a monument of past ages; we have the palaces and pyramids, the temples of the Greek and the cathedrals of Christendom; In them is exemplified the power of men, the greatness of nations, the love of art and religious devotion. But the monument at Niagara has something of its own, more in accord with our present thoughts and tendencies. It is a monument worthy of our scientific age, a true monument of enlightenment and of peace. It signifies the subjugation of natural forces to the service of man, the discontinuance of barbarous methods, the relieving of millions from want and suffering.”
— Nikola Tesla
“Great Heaven, on what a fall of bright-green water! — that it came upon me in its full might and majesty. Then, when I felt how near to my Creator I was standing, the first effect, and the enduring one — instant and longing — of the tremendous spectacle, was Peace. Peace of Mind, tranquility, calm recollections of the Dead, great thoughts of Eternal Rest and Happiness; nothing of gloom or terror. Niagara was at once stamped upon my heart, an Image of Beauty; to remain there, changeless and indelible, until its pulses cease to beat, for ever.“
— Charles Dickens
“One frequently only finds out how really beautiful a really beautiful woman is after considerable acquaintance with her; and the rule applies to Niagara Falls, to majestic mountains, and to mosques-especially to mosques.”
— Mark Twain
“Their roar is around me. I am on the brink Of the great waters—and their anthem voice Goes up amid the rainbow and the mist.”
Pictured Above: Two unidentified black women with Niagara Falls in the background. Courtesy of Brock University Special Collections & Archives
February is Black History Month, a date recognized as an annual month of remembrance of important people and events in African-American history. Canadians and Americans celebrate it this month, and the United Kingdom also recognizes Black History Month in October.
Niagara Falls is more than just the city to go to in order to witness the majestic Falls, it also played an active role for African-Americans throughout history.
The Underground Railroad
Between 1840 and 1860, enslaved Africans followed the “Underground Railroad” to find freedom in Canada. It was not an actual railroad, but rather a secret network of routes and safe houses that helped people escape slavery and reach Canada, especially after the US passed the “Fugitive Slave Act” in 1850. This allowed slave hunters to pursue and capture enslaved people in places where they would legally be free. Approximately 30,000 slaves were able to escape along the Underground Railroad, and Niagara Falls was well-recognized as being a settling point for many people who escaped slavery in the United States.
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman (Library of Congress). Taken between 1871-1876.
One of the most influential and empowering people to celebrate during Black History Month in Niagara Falls, is also the woman who played a huge hand in the Underground Railroad and became a heroine to many black people.
Harriet Tubman was born into a plantation in Maryland right into slavery. She was tormented with much cruelty as a field-hand. At age 13 she was struck in the head by a weight hurled by an overseer that would cause seizures for the rest of her life. After the death of her master in 1849, she was petrified of being sold to the Deep South and escaped without her husband to Philadelphia in the north. She began work as a cook in hotels and clubs to finance excursions to liberate other slaves into the Underground Railroad.
She returned in 1850 to rescue her sister Mary Ann and her two children. The Fugitive Slave Act came into effect in 1850, so now Harriet could no longer find complete refuge in the northern states, so that is when she began to bring them across the border into Niagara Falls, Canada. From there, they traveled to nearby St. Catharines, where they were aided by the Reverend Hiram Wilson, an abolitionist and the leader of the local refugee community.
In 1851 Tubman moved to St. Catharines, which would be the centre of her anti-slavery activities for the next seven years.
Due to Harriet Tubman’s courageous actions, St. Catharines quickly grew to 123 black families listed on the assessment rolls in 1855. Between 1852 and 1857, Tubman made 11 trips into the United States to rescue fugitives. What made her actions even more heroic was the $40,000 reward posted by a group of slave-owners for her capture — dead or alive. No one rivaled Tubman in the number of trips and the number of slaves liberated into the Underground Railroad.
Nathaniel Dett Memorial Chapel, 5674 Peer St., Niagara Falls
The church was built in 1836 and in 1856, it was moved to Peer Street. The move was funded by a gentleman named Burr Plato, a fugitive from the US who prevailed over racist attitudes and became the first elected Black man in local government from 1886 to 1905. The Peer Street property was donated by Oliver Parnell, who had escaped slavery from Berlin, Maryland by swimming the Niagara River to freedom. Once in Canada, Pernell made his way to the village of Drummondville, part of present-day Niagara Falls, and settled there. During this period, there were many refugee slaves living in Drummondville along Peer, Stanley, Ross, Grey and Robinson Streets.
The building was renamed in 1983 after Nathaniel Dett, who was born in Niagara Falls in 1882. Dett was a world-renowned musician and composer. This building is the third oldest church in Niagara Falls.
One of Nathaniel Dett’s most played pieces is called “In the Bottoms”. He wrote this piano piece for the students he taught musically in 1913. It is being performed by Leon Bates. This is a portion of the second movement called “His Song”.
Niagara Black History Venues & Events
Niagara’s collection of displays and monuments honouring Black Canadian heritage allows visitors to learn about Canada’s stories of independence and bravery. Learn about Niagara’s part in the renowned Underground Railroad as you travel along the magnificent Niagara River Parkway from Fort Erie to Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake. See the printing press that printed Canada’s 1793 Act Against Slavery and stand where Harriet Tubman first entered into Canada in 1851.
Nathanial Dett Memorial Chapel of the British Methodist Episcopal Church In 1836, the “British Methodist Episcopal Church” was built. The Nathaniel Dett Memorial Chapel is a National Historic Site that is part of the Freedom Trail’s Underground Railroad heritage places of interest.
Harriet Tubman Tribute Harriet Tubman’s initial crossing into Canada in 1856 was commemorated by an explanatory plaque placed by the Niagara Parks Commission in June 2017. She crossed the Niagara Parkway, north of the falls, on a suspension bridge near the current Whirlpool Bridge Plaza. At the White Water Walk and Whirlpool Bridge’s entry, look for a sequence of plaques.
The Louis Roy Press and the 1793 Act Against Slavery (Queenston) Canada’s oldest wooden printing press, which printed the 1793 Act Against Slavery. Mackenzie Printery & Museum of Newspapers (Queenston)
Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center (Niagara Falls, New York) 825 Depot Ave W, Niagara Falls, NY 14305, United States
The Heritage Center’s aim is to tell the true story of Niagara Falls’ Underground Railroad freedom seekers and abolitionists, inspiring visitors to realize modern-day injustices stemming from slavery and take steps toward a more fair society.
The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center is open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Tuesday – Sunday.
Laura Secord Homestead, 29 Queenston Street, Queenston, Ontario.
Speaker Series on Black History by the Niagara Parks Commission
With this multi-part online speaker series, learn about different viewpoints on Black history and culture in Canada.
The speaker series has an exceptional lineup of speakers, beginning on January 29 with Lezlie Harper, an established Black history educational group tours professional located in Niagara, and concluding on February 26 with Saladin Allah, a recognized award-winning multi-media activist. Kevin Cottrell, the originator of the current National Network to Freedom Initiative, will conclude the series on March 26.
Tickets grant access to the speaker series, along with coffee and tea at the event.
Tickets are $15 per event, or gain access to the entire series for $35. All sessions begin at 2:00 p.m.
January 29: Lezlie Harper, Celebrating Black History in Niagara
Lezlie Harper, a Black history educational group tour specialist, will begin off the series on January 29 with an examination of Black History in Niagara.
February 26: Saladin Allah, Present-Day Freedom Seekers and The Power of our Stories
Saladin Allah, a multi-media activist, will lecture about current day freedom seekers and the impact of their tales on February 26.
March 26: Kevin Cottrell, Interpreting The Underground Railroad in the age of Heritage Tourism and the built environment in the Niagara Region
The series finishes on March 26 with Kevin Cottrell, the current National Network of Freedom Initiative’s founder. He’ll speak on the Niagara Region’s heritage tourism and the Underground Railroad.
More information and tickets are available at niagaraparks.com/black-history. Tickets are $15 per event, with a $35 package that includes admission to all three events. All sessions will begin at 2 p.m. at the Laura Secord Homestead, 29 Queenston Street, Queenston, Ontario.
Lezlie Harper: Celebrating Black History in Niagara January 29, 2023
This session will look at the experiences of Black families who come to Canada, as well as the experiences of families who come to the Niagara Region and Canada.
Saladin Allah: Present-Day Freedom Seekers and The Power of our Stories February 26, 2023
This workshop will investigate Present Day Freedom Seekers and the Power of Our Stories in an illuminating presentation about the significance of our local legacy and the need of preserving the stories of ordinary people doing amazing things. Saladin discusses the importance of everyday people finding a sense of agency in their legacy as modern-day freedom seekers by highlighting the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center and sharing his personal story as a descendant of famed underground railroad freedom seeker Josiah Henson.
There is no denying the huge growth over the years at the Winter Festival of Lights, but how much do you know about the history of the Winter Festival of Lights?
The festival originally began on the US side in Niagara Falls, New York back in 1980. It only lasted 44 days and was simply titled “Festival of Lights.” The event received funding by sponsorship from the area tourist industry, and with volunteer help from the community.
This included a nine-story “OxyLights,” which was a light show synchronized to Christmas music. The vacated Nabisco 180 foot tall silos were illuminated and called the “Nabisco Fantasy of Lights” on the south end of the downtown area. The trees along Old Falls Street and Lackey Plaza were decorated with thousands of strings of lights creating a path from the Falls Convention Center to the Winter Garden. Inside, there was more than 15,000 square feet of indoor animation in the Carborundum Center and inside the Niagara Falls Convention Center. The seven-story Wintergarden also had strings of lights and a huge star hanging over the entrance.
This “Festival of Lights” ran until 2004 when the City of Niagara Falls eventually didn’t receive enough sponsorship dollars.
Some photos from the US “Festival of Lights” (photos courtesy of the Niagara Falls Public Library Local History Department).
Niagara Falls, Ontario then decided to take on the “Festival of Lights” in 1983 (changing the name to the “Winter Festival of Lights” in 1985). This was an arrangement made between the Niagara Falls Canada Visitor and Convention Bureau, the City of Niagara Falls Ontario, and the Niagara Parks Commission after seeing the huge tourist draw that it brought the US side. Its budget was modest — only $18,000 when it premiered on November 17, 1983 until February 26, 1984. During this first year of operation, approximately 250,000 people and 35 motor coaches visited the Winter Festival of Lights. Currently in its 39th year, it sees upwards of 1 million annual visitors and 750 motor coaches each year.
In 1992, the Winter Festival of Lights introduced Disney into the mix. The “Enchantment of Disney” displays were immediately a crowd favourite throughout Queen Victoria Park, with over 20 animated displays of Disney classics.
Festival of Lights Disney’s Toy Story in Lights 2004
From 1998-2006, the Festival introduced a weekly Night Parade of Lights in which it featured a dozen or so lit up floats. Despite its success, in 2006, the Winter Festival of Lights cancelled the Night Parade, which in turn poured more money to be put into lights throughout the park and Dufferin Islands.
In 2010, the CAA became a huge sponsor of the Winter Festival of Lights and then became known as the “CAA Winter Festival of Lights” when they signed a contract for a two-year sponsorship. In 2013 (to current date), the Ontario Power Generation became its new sponsor, now being entitled the “Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights“. Additionally, the Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights ended the partnership with Disney for light displays and opening ceremonies after twenty years. Disney had decided to limit the character’s appearances to their theme parks. Organizers decided to replace them with twenty Korean lantern displays, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War and 50 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and South Korea.
This year in 2021, The Winter Festival of Lights will illuminate Niagara Falls for 101 Nights (November 13th, 2021- February 21st, 2022), almost doubling the amount of time from previous years. Every year, there is always something new and spectacular happening during this ever-growing and one of Canada’s favourite events.
2020 introduced 20 new additional displays, with this year adding a further 8 new exhibits. 3D animals are back, along with a big gingerbread home, fairy tale palace, and light tunnel.
