It was on February 15th, 1965 that the Canadian flag was raised for the first time on Parliament Hill in
Ottawa
.
Ever since then, the date has been known as Flag Day.
And if MP Peggy Nash gets her way, it could be the next statutory holiday.
On Thursday, she introduced a private member's bill to get the ball rolling.
"There is a genuine pride towards our country and the flag symbolizes our country and coming the day after Valentine's Day, that's not a bad thing either," Nash said.
Many believe the day off is sorely needed, considering there are 98 days between the New Year's holiday and Easter.
Here's a look at the holidays Ontario residents get - and the ones they don't.
Canada has a set standard number of statutory holidays that are observed in every province. They are:
- New Year's Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- Labour Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day and
- Boxing Day.
Remembrance Day - November 11th - is sometimes marked as a holiday by federal officials, but the rest of us don't get the day off.
Each province has its own special datelines for when you get a break, and Newfoundland leads the pack. But so far, Alberta is the only one that gives their residents a day off in February.
Here's when the rest occur.
Ontario
Civic Holiday (first Monday of August)
Quebec
National Holiday (June 24)
Nova Scotia
Natal Day (first Monday of August, except in Halifax where it varies from year to year, usually August or July)
New Brunswick
New Brunswick Day (first Monday of August)
Manitoba
Civic Holiday (first Monday of August)
British Columbia
British Columbia Day (first Monday of August)
Prince Edward Island
Natal Day (usually on first Monday of August)
Saskatchewan
Civic Holiday (first Monday of August)
Alberta
Alberta Family Day (third Monday of February)
Heritage Day (first Monday of August)
Newfoundland
Celebrated on nearest Monday:
St. Patrick's Day (March 17)
St. George's Day (April 23)
Discovery Day (June 24)
Memorial Day (July 1)
Orangemen's Day (July 12)
Regatta Day /Civic Holiday (fixed by municipal council orders)
Northwest Territories
Civic Holiday (first Monday of August)
Yukon
Discovery Day (third Monday of August)
Source: Heritage Canada