Article By: Ken Holmes
As many provinces prepare for the upcoming “Civic Holiday,” Ottawa residents prepare to celebrate Colonel By Day rather than simply Civic Holiday. The name honours Lieutenant-Colonel John By, the British Royal Engineers officer whose vision and leadership gave birth to both the Rideau Canal and the city that would become Canada's capital.
Between 1826 and 1832, Colonel By directed the construction of the 202-kilometre Rideau Canal, one of the greatest engineering achievements of its era. Built for military purposes following the War of 1812, the canal also stimulated settlement and commerce. To support the massive project, By established the community of Bytown, which later grew into the City of Ottawa.
Recognizing his lasting contribution, the City of Ottawa renamed the Civic Holiday “Colonel By Day” in 1996. The first Monday in August was chosen because it falls close to Colonel By's birthday of 7 August 1779.
Today, Colonel By Day celebrates more than a long weekend. It recognizes the remarkable engineering accomplishment of the Rideau Canal - now a UNESCO World Heritage Site - and the military engineer whose work shaped Ottawa's history.