Discovery Day in Canada
Quick Facts
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Discovery Day commemorates John Cabot’s arrival at the province on June 24, 1497.Local names
| Name | Language |
|---|---|
| Discovery Day | English |
| John Cabot | French |
Discovery Day 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009Discovery Day 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010See list of observations below
Discovery Day is celebrated in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador on the nearest Monday to June 24. It is also known as Cabot 500 Day and remembers Giovanni Caboto’s (also known as John Cabot) discovery of the province’s island portion. This day is not to be confused with Yukon’s Discovery Day, which is also known as Klondike Gold Discovery Day.
The replica of the Matthew (pictured above) sailed from the United Kingdom to Canada in 1997. ©iStockphoto.com/Les Palenik
What do people do?
Newfoundland and Labrador celebrates its Discovery Day on the Monday closest to June 24. Many communities choose to hold their own celebrations but it is in Bonavista where many events take place. Some people may visit the Matthew legacy site during this period. Other attractions at the day’s celebrations in Bonavista in recent times included the “Kids Walking Parade”, talent shows, and a motorcade involving more than 100 cars.
The city of St John’s in the province celebrates its birthday, known as St John’s Days around this time of the year. Celebratory events include outdoor concerts, historical characters, and various art and cultural activities. Various sources have claimed that St John’s is the oldest English-founded city in North America.
Public life
Discovery Day is a paid holiday for government employees in Newfoundland and Labrador. School calendars in the province are set by individual school districts so those wishing to find out if Discovery Day is a school holiday should check with these districts.
People driving to major events on Discovery Day may need to plan early to avoid traffic. Those who are uncertain about the transport schedule on Discovery Day can to contact local transport services prior to travelling.
Background
Discovery Day in Newfoundland and Labrador commemorates Giovanni Caboto’s (also known as John Cabot) discovery of the province’s island portion in 1497. It has been celebrated since 1997 – the 500th anniversary of the discovery. Cabot left Europe on May 20, 1497, aboard his vessel, the Matthew. It was a small ship, but reportedly fast and able. The crew consisted of 18 people. He reported landed near present-day Bonavista on June 24, 1497, and departed on or around July 20 that year.
Symbols
The Matthew legacy site is a tourist attraction in Bonavista, in Newfoundland and Labrador. John Cabot sailed on the vessel, which was named after his wife Mattea, when he reached Canada in 1497. A replica was built in Bristol, in the United Kingdom, in 1996 before sailing, repeating Cabot’s original journey, to Bonavista in 1997. It carried the same number of crew members as the original and took the same amount of time to complete the journey. This replica has since returned to Bristol.
Discovery Day Observances
| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Jun 23 | 1997 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 22 | 1998 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 21 | 1999 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 26 | 2000 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 25 | 2001 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 24 | 2002 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 23 | 2003 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 21 | 2004 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 27 | 2005 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 26 | 2006 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 25 | 2007 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 23 | 2008 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 22 | 2009 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 21 | 2010 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 27 | 2011 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 25 | 2012 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 24 | 2013 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 23 | 2014 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
| Mon | Jun 22 | 2015 | Discovery Day | Local observance | NL |
Related holiday
- Discovery Day–Monday, August 17, 2009
Other holidays in June 2009 in Canada
- Whit Monday (Monday, June 1, 2009)
- Trinity Sunday (Sunday, June 7, 2009)
- Corpus Christi (Thursday, June 11, 2009)
- Father's Day (Sunday, June 21, 2009)
- National Aboriginal Day (Sunday, June 21, 2009)
- June Solstice (Sunday, June 21, 2009)
- National Aboriginal Day (Sunday, June 21, 2009)
- St. Jean Baptiste Day (Wednesday, June 24, 2009)
Other calendars
- Perpetual yearly calendar - make yearly calendar for any year
- Perpetual monthly calendar - shows only one month at a time
- Custom calendar - make customized calendars
