Calendar IndexCalendar 2013Calendar 2012Print Calendar PDF Monthly CalendarBasic Calendar CreatorAdvanced CreatorHolidays
Home > Calendar > Holidays > Canada > Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster

Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster in Canada

Quick Facts

The Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster is annually held in Canada on December 11.

Local names

NameLanguage
Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterEnglish
L’anniversaire de la proclamation du Statut de WestminsterFrench

Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster 2012

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster 2013

Wednesday, December 11, 2013
List of dates for other years

The Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster is observed in Canada on December 11 each year to mark the statute's establishment. The Canadian flag and the Royal Union flag are flown together on this day.

Both the Canadian flag and the Royal Union flag are flown together on the Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster. ©iStockphoto.com/philpell

What do people do?

Businesses, individuals and government offices across Canada observe the Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster on this day. Canada's national flag and the Royal Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, are flown from sunrise to sunset. The flags can be seen at federal buildings, airports, military bases and other government establishments.

Public life

The Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster is not a public holiday but government and military officials ensure that the Canadian flag and the Royal Union flag are flown together from sunrise to sunset on this day.

Background

The original Royal Union flag, or Union Jack, was first raised at a British settlement in Newfoundland, Canada, after 1610. In 1870 the flag was incorporated into the flags of the Governor General and the Lieutenant Governors of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In 1904 the flag became a Canadian symbol and was used by Canadian troops during World War I.

However, for many years during the early 20th century Canada sought to gain formal recognition of its autonomy from the United Kingdom. Finally, in 1931 the Statute of Westminster, 1931, which was an Act of the British Parliament, gave Canada its autonomy. This statute marks the independence of Canada as the nation that it is today.

In 1964 Canada's parliament approved for the Royal Union flag to be used as a symbol of Canada’s membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and of the nation's allegiance to the British Crown. Canada still remains close with England and flies the Royal Union Flag along with the Canadian flag for occasions such as the Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster, Commonwealth Day, and Victoria Day.

Symbols

The Royal Union Flag, which is seen on the arms of British Columbia and on the flags of Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia, incorporates the diagonal cross of St Patrick with England's St George's cross and Scotland's St Andrew's cross. The Canadian flag is red and white, the official colors of Canada, with a stylized 11-point red leaf in its center. When flown together, there must be at least two flag poles and the Canadian flag takes precedence, never being replaced by the Union Jack.

Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster Observances

WeekdayDateYearNameHoliday typeWhere it is observed
ThuDec 111980Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
FriDec 111981Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
SatDec 111982Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
SunDec 111983Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
TueDec 111984Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
WedDec 111985Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
ThuDec 111986Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
FriDec 111987Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
SunDec 111988Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
MonDec 111989Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
TueDec 111990Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
WedDec 111991Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
FriDec 111992Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
SatDec 111993Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
SunDec 111994Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
MonDec 111995Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
WedDec 111996Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
ThuDec 111997Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
FriDec 111998Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
SatDec 111999Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
MonDec 112000Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
TueDec 112001Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
WedDec 112002Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
ThuDec 112003Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
SatDec 112004Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
SunDec 112005Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
MonDec 112006Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
TueDec 112007Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
ThuDec 112008Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
FriDec 112009Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
SatDec 112010Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
SunDec 112011Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
TueDec 112012Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
WedDec 112013Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
ThuDec 112014Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 
FriDec 112015Anniversary of the Statute of WestminsterObservance 

Other holidays in December 2012 in Canada

Advertising

Other calendars

Related links