CA 150: Celebrations from coast to coast
150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada
by Rosana Dias
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada by Joshua Cote
The calendar of celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada is filled with different and exciting options. Each city and province has their own activities scheduled for the entire year. There are, however, unique festivities that will span across the entire country. Anyone interested in checking the official calendar of events can obtain the details on the Canadian Government website “Canada 150” created especially for the sesquicentennial. http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1468262573081
Three initiatives to keep in mind:
1 Passport 2017 – This is a free digital app and website where you can follow the schedule of activities planned during the year. Some of the categories you can search include: First Nations, Wine, Restaurants, National Parks, Photography, among others. http://passport2017.ca/
2 Free admission to Parks Canada – Parks Canada is giving away free passes to Canada’s National Parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas. The passes will be available at Parks Canada sites and through partners until the end of 2017. http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/index.aspx
3 One day at a time – Library and Archives Canada (LAC), in partnership with “Canada 150 Federal Secretariat”, launched the #OnThisDay project. This project showcases the most significant facts of the history of Canada every day for the year. People are encouraged to share their own facts through the hashtag #OnThisDay.
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/onthisday/Pages/introduction.aspx
Upcoming Celebrations
There will be many festivities to mark the 150th anniversary of Confederation. Some of the main events include National Aboriginal Day on June 21, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day: Fête Nationale du Québec et de la Francophonie Canadienne on June 24; Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27, and, of course, Canada Day on July 1st. A four-day Canada Day celebration – June 30 to July 3rd – will be held at Nathan Philip Square in Toronto.
Volunteers Challenge
To celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Canada, volunteers are being invited to give 150 hours of their time during 2017 by giving back to the community and making a difference in people’s lives. Candidates can sign into the “150 for 150” on-line platform and mobile app. Volunteers are invited to share stories, track hours, create a profile and hear about what others are doing across the country.
https://volunteer150for150.ca/
