1995 – First Colonel By Day

Colonel By Day began in 1995 as a “Blueberry Social & Heritage Fête”.  It was held on the grounds of the Bytown Museum, and was organized by CHOO/COPO, the Bytown Museum, and the Historical Society of Ottawa.  The event featured ice cream, baked goods, a children’s musician, walking tours and heritage displays.  A “Mayor’s Proclamation” ceremony, officially proclaiming the day “Colonel By Day” was held for approximately 20 minutes.  The day was entirely organized by a committee of volunteers.

1996-1999 – Early Years

Early versions of Colonel By Day tended to follow a similar format, usually involving some kind of Official ceremony and a Procession to the Bytown Museum, as well as small numbers of performers, demonstrators, and exhibitors.  The event continued to be organized by volunteers from CHOO/COPO and the Historical Society of Ottawa.  In 1996, the mayor declared the first Monday in August to be Colonel By Day in perpetuity in the city of Ottawa, and the name of the festival was changed from “Blueberry Social” to “Colonel By Day” in 1998 or 1999.  At some point during this period Parks Canada began to be involved in the programming for the festival, contributing costumed characters and blacksmithing demonstrations.

2000 – Expansion

In 2000, Colonel By Day received substantial corporate sponsorships from local businesses, and was able to offer much more refreshment and entertainment for visitors.  Because the city amalgamated that year, the by-law declaring the holiday Monday to be Colonel By Day in Ottawa was no longer valid, so the Mayor was asked to attend to present a one-time declaration.  This continued annually for several years.

2003 – Summer Staff

In 2003, CHOO/COPO received a grant to hire a summer staff person to work on Colonel By Day for the first time. 

2004 – Photos

In 2004, CHOO/COPO began keeping a photographic record of the Colonel By Day celebration.  This was also the year the Celtic Cross was erected on the East side of the canal, marking the first annual Celtic Cross commemoration ceremony.

2005 – 2007 – Steady Growth

In the late 2000s Colonel By Day began to take on its current format, with many elements becoming standard.  CHOO/COPO invited a wide variety of local performers and demonstrators to participate, and began to track visitor responses.  A summer student was hired each year to take on organization of the event, as it steadily grew in size and scope.

2008 – A year of changes

2008 was a watershed year for Colonel By Day, as that year CHOO/COPO partnered with the fledgling Rideau Canal Festival to present the event.  The Rideau Canal Festival is a multi-day festival which celebrates the Rideau Canal and everything it has to offer, with a focus on Healthy Active Living, Heritage, and Environmental issues.  As a result of the partnership, CHOO/COPO was able to hire a second summer student to assist with Colonel By Day planning, and benefitted from the Rideau Canal Festival’s increased advertising and publicity. 

2009-2011 – The Rideau Canal Festival

Between 2009 and 2011 the partnership between CHOO/COPO and the Rideau Canal Festival has deepened, and Colonel By Day has continued to grow.  The festival now receives an annual attendance of between 5000 and 6000 people, and offers a full day of exciting live family programming for free on the August civic holiday.  In 2010, the first Monday in August was again declared Colonel By Day in perpetuity in the city of Ottawa, and we look forward to the many exciting Colonel By Days to come!