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Bill 81, Croatian Heritage Day Act, 2024

Skelly, Hon. Donna

Royal Assent received. Statutes of Ontario 2024,

chapter 6

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Status

Debates

Royal Assent

Original

Bill 81 Royal Assent (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

This

Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s aid to Bill 81 and does not form

part of the law.

Bill 81 has been enacted as

Chapter 6 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2024.

The

Bill proclaims May 30 in each year as Croatian Heritage Day.

Bill 81 2024

Act to proclaim Croatian Heritage Day

Preamble

For

more than a century Canadians of Croatian heritage have made incredible

contributions to business, politics, medicine, science, sport and culture in

Ontario.

Croatian

immigrants escaping the oppression of the Communist regime began arriving in

Ontario in the 1920s seeking a better life. They worked in steel mills in Hamilton

and Sault Ste. Marie, in mines in northern Ontario and on construction sites

across Ontario. They established vibrant communities across the province,

including in Windsor, Welland, Hamilton, Mississauga, Toronto and further north

in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie.

Today,

Ontario is home to over 100,000 people of Croatian descent, the largest

Croatian population in Canada.

The

contributions of Ontarians of Croatian descent have been numerous. For example,

Robert Herjavec, best known for being an investor on Dragon’s Den and Shark

Tank, came to Ontario with his family destitute and is now living the “Canadian

dream”. Scientist Asaf Durakovic was an expert in nuclear and radiation

medicine.

Athleticism

is an important part of the Croatian identity. This dedication to sport has

given Ontario world-class athletes. Boxer George Chuvalo was a five-time

Canadian heavyweight champion who is best known for having never been knocked

down in his 93 bout professional career, including in fights against Muhammad

Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman.

Brothers

Frank and Peter Mahovlich, who grew up in Timmins, played for the National

Hockey League (NHL) and became Stanley Cup winners. Matt and Marty Pavelich,

who were raised in Sault Ste. Marie, also made their mark in the NHL, and Oakville’s

Tony Mandarich played 7 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

Figure

skaters Sandra and Val Bezic were a sister and brother team from Toronto who

won Canadian figure skating championships in the 1970s and who represented

Canada at the 1972 Olympics.

People

of Croatian heritage have helped build Ontario into one of the best places in

the world to live. By proclaiming May 30 as Croatian Heritage Day, the Province

of Ontario recognizes the remarkable contributions of Ontarians of Croatian

descent, as well as the values they bring and the important role they have

played in shaping the identity of Ontario.

Therefore,

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Croatian

Heritage Day

May 30

in each year is proclaimed as Croatian Heritage Day.

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Croatian Heritage Day

Act, 2024 .

Bill 81 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill proclaims May 30 in each year as Croatian Heritage Day.

Bill 81 2023

Act to proclaim Croatian Heritage Day

Preamble

For

more than a century Canadians of Croatian heritage have made incredible

contributions to business, politics, medicine, science, sport and culture in

Ontario.

Croatian

immigrants escaping the oppression of the Communist regime began arriving in

Ontario in the 1920s seeking a better life. They worked in steel mills in Hamilton

and Sault Ste. Marie, in mines in northern Ontario and on construction sites

across Ontario. They established vibrant communities across the province,

including in Windsor, Welland, Hamilton, Mississauga, Toronto and further north

in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie.

Today,

Ontario is home to over 100,000 people of Croatian descent, the largest

Croatian population in Canada.

The

contributions of Ontarians of Croatian descent have been numerous. For example,

Robert Herjavec, best known for being an investor on Dragon’s Den and Shark

Tank, came to Ontario with his family destitute and is now living the “Canadian

dream”. Scientist Asaf Durakovic was an expert in nuclear and radiation

medicine.

Athleticism

is an important part of the Croatian identity. This dedication to sport has

given Ontario world-class athletes. Boxer George Chuvalo was a five-time

Canadian heavyweight champion who is best known for having never been knocked

down in his 93 bout professional career, including in fights against Muhammad

Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman.

Brothers

Frank and Peter Mahovlich, who grew up in Timmins, played for the National

Hockey League (NHL) and became Stanley Cup winners. Matt and Marty Pavelich,

who were raised in Sault Ste. Marie, also made their mark in the NHL, and Oakville’s

Tony Mandarich played 7 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

Figure

skaters Sandra and Val Bezic were a sister and brother team from Toronto who

won Canadian figure skating championships in the 1970s and who represented

Canada at the 1972 Olympics.

People

of Croatian heritage have helped build Ontario into one of the best places in

the world to live. By proclaiming May 30 as Croatian Heritage Day, the Province

of Ontario recognizes the remarkable contributions of Ontarians of Croatian

descent, as well as the values they bring and the important role they have

played in shaping the identity of Ontario.

Therefore,

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Croatian

Heritage Day

May 30

in each year is proclaimed as Croatian Heritage Day.

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Croatian Heritage Day

Act, 2023 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

April 25, 2024

Royal Assent

Royal Assent received

March 21, 2024

Third Reading

Vote

Carried

March 21, 2024

Third Reading

Question put

March 21, 2024

Third Reading

Debated

September 25, 2023

Second Reading

Ordered for Third Reading

September 25, 2023

Second Reading

Report adopted

September 25, 2023

Second Reading

Reported without amendment

Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy

July 10, 2023

Second Reading

Consideration of a Bill

Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy

April 18, 2023

Second Reading

Ordered referred to Standing Committee

Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy

April 18, 2023

Second Reading

Vote

Carried

April 18, 2023

Second Reading

Question put

April 18, 2023

Second Reading

Debated

March 20, 2023

First Reading

Ordered for Second Reading

March 20, 2023

First Reading

Vote

Carried

First Reading

March 20, 2023

Carried

Second Reading

April 18, 2023

Burch, Jeff

Niagara Centre

Cuzzetto, Rudy

Mississauga—Lakeshore

Pang, Billy

Markham—Unionville

Rasheed, Hon. Kaleed

Mississauga East—Cooksville

Skelly, Donna

Flamborough—Glanbrook

Carried

Ordered referred to Standing Committee

Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy

July 10, 2023

Consideration of a Bill

Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy

September 25, 2023

Reported without amendment

Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy

Ordered for Third Reading

Third Reading

March 21, 2024

Cuzzetto, Rudy

Mississauga—Lakeshore

McCrimmon, Karen

Kanata—Carleton

Saunderson, Brian

Simcoe—Grey

Skelly, Donna

Flamborough—Glanbrook

Wai, Daisy

Richmond Hill

West, Jamie

Sudbury

March 21, 2024

Question put

Carried

Royal Assent

April 25, 2024

Royal Assent received

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