Having a long weekend smack dab in the middle of summer is a great idea but exactly who should we be thanking for this little respite from work in August?

Heritage Day in Alberta started back in 1974, 45 years ago, and we have Dr. Horst A. Schmidt to thank for the day.  Dr. Schmidt was Alberta's Minister of Culture at the time.  He declared the first Monday in August as an annual holiday to recognize and celebrate the rich and varied cultural heritage of Albertans that comes from around the world and dubbed it "Heritage Day."

Heritage Day isn't celebrated everywhere in Canada and is known by other names in some provinces.  The days is called British Columbia Day in B.C., New Brunswick Day in New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan Day in.....Okay, you get the drift.

In Manitoba, it's known as Terry Fox Day in honour of the nationally known and Manitoba born athlete.  In Nova Scotia, it's known as Natal Day in commemoration of the founding of the Halifax-Dartmouth area.  

And in case you think you're entitled to today off, Heritage Day is no longer a statutory holiday but is known as an "optional" civic holiday.  It was downgraded from stat holiday status in 1990 following the introduction of Family Day by Premier Don Getty.  

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