In 1845, during the reign of Queen Victoria, May 24, the queen’s birthday, was declared a holiday in Canada. After Victoria’s death in 1901, an act of the Canadian Parliament established Victoria Day as a legal holiday, to be celebrated on May 24 (or on May 25 when May 24 fell on a Sunday).
An amendment to the Statutes of Canada in 1952 established the celebration of Victoria Day on the Monday preceding May 25. From 1953 to 1956, the Queen’s birthday was celebrated in Canada on Victoria Day, by proclamation of the Governor General, with Her Majesty’s approval.
“Victoria Day” is currently celebrated on the last Monday before May 25th in honor of Queen Victoria’s birthday, who was born on May 24th, 1819. Upon the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, “Victoria Day” was made into an official holiday after it was passed into law.