n. — especially British Columbia, Administration
British Columbia Day, a civic holiday on the first Monday of August in BC.
Type: 1. Origin — Before BC Day was proposed in 1974, August 1st was already a statutory holiday in every other Canadian province. The government of BC decided a holiday was needed to "recognize the pioneers of British Columbia by declaring the first Monday of August in each year to be a public holiday known as British Columbia Day" (see Gov't of BC reference). In addition, Queen Victoria had declared the Colony of British Columbia on the BC mainland on August 2nd, 1858 (see Gov't of BC and Leg. Assembly of BC references).
See also COD-2, s.v. "BC Day", which is marked "Cdn", and ITP Nelson, s.v. "B.C. Day".