By Navdeep Singh Chhina ਨਵਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਛੀਨਾ
As we approach the Victoria Day holiday, an eagerly awaited long weekend that kicks starts summer in B.C., I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the broader significance of this day and its impact within the context of British Columbia’s history.
Victoria Day, named after the Monarch Victoria, has long been celebrated across Canada as a mark of loyalty to the British Crown and as a symbol of colonial heritage. In British Columbia, this day holds particular resonance, as the province’s capital is named after Victoria herself, who reigned during the height of British imperial expansion. It was during this reign that the British Empire was at its most powerful and perpetrated the most harm.
For many racialized and Indigenous peoples, Victoria Day is a painful reminder of colonization—a process that led to the displacement of communities (root cause for immigration), the suppression of languages and cultures, and ongoing systemic inequalities. The celebration of a colonial monarch, without acknowledging this complex history, continues to perpetuate harm and overlook the resilience and sovereignty of Indigenous Nations.
Across B.C. and beyond, many are using Victoria Day as an opportunity to raise awareness about the true impacts of colonization and to honour Indigenous voices and histories that have long been marginalized.
Victoria presided over “divide and rule”
The legacy of British imperialism under Victoria’s reign is not confined to Canada. In South Asia, her rule laid the groundwork for a colonial strategy of “divide and rule” that sowed deep divisions among religious and ethnic communities. This approach, used to maintain control over a vast and diverse population, ultimately contributed to the violent partition of India and Pakistan in 1947—a division that caused immense human suffering and displacement, and which continues to fuel ongoing conflict between the two nations to this day. Victoria’s empire may have receded, but the consequences of its policies remain painfully present in many parts of the world.
I encourage you to take one action this Victoria Day whether it’s attending an Indigenous-led event, reading about the history of colonization in British Columbia, supporting a local Indigenous artist or organization, or having a meaningful conversation within your organization. Every action, no matter how small, contributes to a broader movement toward justice and reconciliation.
Navdeep Singh Chhina ਨਵਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਛੀਨਾ works at the intersections of equity and active transportation. This article originally appeared on his Linkedin account. Learn more about the communities that make up Canada on the Toronto Spark website. The Toronto Spark is on Bluesky @torontospark.bsky.social.
