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The Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (V.C.) is the highest honour available to Canadians and is awarded for the most
conspicuous bravery, a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in
the presence of the enemy. The V.C. has been awarded to 96 Canadians since 1854, including:
• Then Lieutenant Alexander Roberts Dunn,
born in present-day Toronto, served in the
British Army in the Charge of the Light Brigade
at Balaclava (1854) in the Crimean War, and
was the first Canadian to be awarded the
Victoria Cross.
• Able Seaman William Hall of Horton, Nova
Scotia, whose parents were American slaves,
was the first black man to be awarded the V.C.
for his role in the Siege of Lucknow during the
Indian Rebellion of 1857.
• Corporal Filip Konowal, born in Ukraine,
showed exceptional courage in the Battle of
Hill 70 in 1917, and became the first member
of the Canadian Corps not born in the British
Empire to be awarded the V.C.
• Flying ace Captain Billy Bishop, born in Owen
Sound, Ontario, earned the V.C. in the Royal
Flying Corps during the First World War, and
was later an honorary Air Marshal of the Royal
Canadian Air Force.
• Captain Paul Triquet of Cabano, Quebec,
earned the V.C. leading his men and a handful
of tanks in the attack on Casa Berardi in Italy
in 1943 during the Second World War, and
was later a Brigadier.
• Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, a navy pilot
born in Trail, B.C., was killed while bombing
and sinking a Japanese warship in August
1945, a few days before the end of the Second
World War, and was the last Canadian to
receive the V.C. to date.
(From Left to Right)
Colonel Alexander Roberts
Dunn, V.C.
Able Seaman William
Hall, V.C.
Brigadier Paul Triquet, V.C.
Filip Konowal, V.C.,
was promoted Sergeant
(From Top to Bottom)
Air Marshal William A.
Bishop, better known as
flying ace Billy Bishop,
V.C.
Lieutenant Robert
Hampton Gray, V.C.
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National Public Holidays and Other Important Dates
New Year’s Day
January 1
Sir John A. Macdonald Day
January 11
Good Friday
Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday
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Monday immediately following Easter Sunday
Vimy Day
April 9
Victoria Day
Monday preceding May 25 (Sovereign’s birthday)
Fête nationale (Quebec)
June 24 (Feast of St. John the Baptist)
Canada Day
July 1
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First Monday of September
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Second Monday of October
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November 11
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day
November 20
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December 25
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December 26