July 1 is "Canada Day", celebrating the founding of the world's second largest country.
The land was originally occupied by aboriginals, but starting in the late 15th century, British/French expeditions explored and later settled along the Atlantic coast. France eventually ceded all of its North American colonies in 1763 following the 'Seven Years War'.
July 1, 1867, with the union of British North American colonies through Confederation, Canada was formed as a federal dominion of provinces.
A parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state, Canada is a bilingual/multicultural country, with both English and French as the official tongues at the federal level.
Technologically advanced and industrialized, Canada maintains a diversified economy reliant on natural resources, trade and a creative, highly skilled workforce...