The province marked Ontario Day on Monday, a relatively new commemoration officially proclaimed every June 1 for the past five years. The day is aimed to celebrate the province’s heritage, history, diversity and culture while moving towards a stronger future. It encourages Ontarians to reflect on their appreciation for the province and the contributions made by different communities. “I think it’s good to have a day to think back and reflect on Ontario’s history. It has a very storied past. It’s one of the four original provinces. I think it’s good to set aside time to think about that,” said Ottawa resident Trevor Sullivan. Ontario is home to nearly 16 million people from many backgrounds. “I just moved here like two years ago and I’m already like feeling that this country is giving me a lot of sense of belonging,” said Phyllis Lei, a student who migrated from China. Moses Mubuto is a first generation Canadian whose parents migrated from Uganda. He says he’s proud to be from Ontario. “Our parents, like mine, immigrated here to give me better opportunities in life and I like that. I appreciate that there’s a day to celebrate that where I’m from,” said Mubuto. With the provinces new education act, Ontario Day is part of school’s new curriculum. Schools are holding activities and celebrations to celebrate the day. “Schools are engaging in activities that highlight milestones from Ontario’s past, present and recent developments,” said Stephanie Kirkey, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) District 25. “Fostering pride in Ontario’s past achievements and diverse perspectives and communities within Ontario.”
