It all has to do with how Canada used to mistreat Indigenous peoples -- and still does to some extent. For almost a hundred years, Indigenous children were taken from their families and forced to attend residential schools in an attempt to make them properly "Canadian" (i.e. white). These children were often treated cruelly and some died while trying running away. While this history is known to most Canadians, we were forced to confront it head-on when a large number of bodies were found recently on the sites of two former residential schools. A lot of Canadians are demanding that all former residential schools be examined in case there are other remains to be found. In any case, these discoveries have brought home just how horrible a practice this was and how many children suffered because of it. For this reason, a lot of Canadians didn't want to celebrate Canada Day this year, including me.

It's great that you've got two holidays coming up! May you have a happy Saints Cyril and Methodius Day and a happy Jan Hus Day! :-D