Alberta is Ready to Celebrate the True North Strong and Free!

Minister Sohi and MP Randy Boissonnault announce support for Canada 150 celebrations in Edmonton and communities across the province

EDMONTON, June 9, 2017 /CNW/ - The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament (Edmonton Mill Woods), and Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament (Edmonton Centre), today announced support for the City of Edmonton's Canada Day 2017 celebrations, presented in partnership with the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and the Edmonton Celebrate Canada Society as well as funding for celebrations and projects across the province. They made this announcement on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Minister Sohi and Mr. Boissonnault were joined by Heather Sweet, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton–Manning, and His Worship Don Iveson, Mayor of Edmonton, to make this announcement and officially unveil a 3D Canada 150 sign in Sir Winston Churchill Square.

The City of Edmonton and the Legislative Assembly of Alberta will offer Canada Day programming to mark this important milestone in our nation's history. Festivities will take place throughout the day and will include music, dance and art exhibitions that focus on Canada and Alberta's diversity, culture and history. Everyone can enjoy free, family-friendly entertainment hosted at both City Hall and on the grounds of the Legislature, with a fireworks show in the North Saskatchewan River Valley to conclude the day's celebrations. The Government of Canada is pleased to invest $700,000 in the City of Edmonton's exciting array of activities on July 1.

Thanks to funding provided by the Government of Canada, major celebrations will be taking place in Edmonton and 18 other urban centres across the country to celebrate Canada Day like never before.

Minister Sohi and Mr. Boissonnault also announced $937,576 in funding through the Celebrate Canada program and the Canada 150 Fund for celebrations across central and northern Alberta.

The Government of Canada has also invested in more than 1,500 Canada-wide projects and activities for National Aboriginal Day, Saint-Jean-Baptiste: Fête nationale du Québec et de la Francophonie canadienne, Canadian Multiculturalism Day and Canada Day, placing communities at the heart of Canada 150 celebrations.

These four special days of celebration are an opportunity to highlight what makes communities all across the country unique, diverse and vibrant. The Canada 150 Fund was established by the Government of Canada to allow Canadians across the country to take part in local, regional and Canada-wide celebrations and activities.

Quotes

"Canada 150 is an opportunity to celebrate our achievements and what unites us as Canadians. As we celebrate this milestone, we have a unique chance to bring together communities from coast to coast to coast to celebrate what it means to be Canadian—and to look ahead to the Canada of the future. I invite you all to take part in the celebrations during this exceptional year."

—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

"The Government of Canada is proud to support activities that will allow Canadians to come together and make 2017 an unforgettable year! I look forward to sharing in this momentous occasion with my fellow Edmontonians and Albertans!"

—The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament (Edmonton Mill Woods)

"The days leading up to Canada Day will be a wonderful time to showcase our rich heritage and the cultural diversity that makes Canada such a great place to live. I commend the organizers and volunteers for their efforts to make each and every one of these celebrations a success in communities large and small. Happy Canada 150!"

—Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament (Edmonton Centre)

"Let us celebrate Canada's 150^th anniversary by recognizing that our strength comes from our diversity. Our province is home to many vibrant communities; this is a time to reaffirm our commitment to respecting each other's differences while collectively confirming our pride for our nation."

—The Honourable Robert E. Wanner, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Medicine Hat

"The 150^th anniversary of Confederation gives all Canadians the opportunity to proudly celebrate our shared values, history and achievements. We are grateful to the Government of Canada for its funding to amplify Edmonton's Canada Day programming. I encourage all Edmontonians to reflect upon and express what it means to be Canadian as we mark this national milestone."

—His Worship Don Iveson, Mayor of Edmonton

"The Tourism Industry Association of Canada is proud to partner with the Government of Canada and the Minister of Canadian Heritage to provide destinations across Canada with appealing art installations celebrating Canada 150. Through this initiative, we look forward to creating memories and unique keepsakes of this momentous event in Canadian history that will no doubt be widely shared on social media as positive and powerful images of Canada's natural beauty, tourist appeal and the diversity of our great nation."

—Charlotte Bell, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Industry Association of Canada

Quick Facts

In honour of Canada 150, this year's special period of celebrations, beginning on June 21 and concluding with a major celebration for Canada Day on July 1, will be the most spectacular in Canadian history.

June 21 is National Aboriginal Day: a celebration of Indigenous culture and heritage. This date was chosen because it corresponds to the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and because many Indigenous groups celebrate their culture and heritage at this time of year.

June 24, Saint-Jean-Baptiste: Fête nationale du Québec et de la Francophonie canadienne, marries the ancient rites surrounding the summer solstice—a period of light and hope—and the traditional celebration of the day of the patron saint of French Canadians.

June 27 was designated Canadian Multiculturalism Day on November 13, 2002. This day is an opportunity to appreciate the contributions of the various multicultural groups and communities to Canadian society.

On July 1, Canada Day, Canadians at home and abroad show their pride in their country's history, culture and accomplishments. This year, 19 urban centres across the country will celebrate Canada Day in a spectacular fashion: St. John's, Charlottetown, Halifax, Fredericton, Moncton, Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa–Gatineau, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit.

These celebrations will highlight the evolution of our country, from its Indigenous origins to the presence of the French and the birth of our rich Francophone heritage, and through the more recent waves of immigration that led to the development of a diverse and inclusive society.

A wide range of community projects, supported by the Canada 150 Fund, will also provide opportunities for Canadians to take part in celebrations in their communities. These projects will showcase the vitality of our diverse communities, as well as the many facets of Canada's diversity.

Related Products

Twelve Days of Celebrations for Our Country's Birthday! https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2017/05/twelve_days_of_celebrationsforourcountrysbirthday.html

Associated Links

Canada 150: Come out and celebrate! http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1468854891549/1469215680151

Data Tables – Canada 150 Fund

City	Name of organization	Name of activity	Amount
Andrew	VILLAGE OF ANDREW	July 2 Celebration and Commemorative Activities	$6,000
Beaumont	TOWN OF BEAUMONT	Beaumont Celebrates Canada's 150^th	$30,000
Bonnyville	BONNYVILLE CANADIAN NATIVE FRIENDSHIP CENTRE	Bonnyville Legacy Heritage Project	$23,335
Camrose	CITY OF CAMROSE	Camrose Canada 150 Closing Ceremonies	$12,500
Edmonton	EDMONTON PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD	Exploring Reconciliation: A Digital Public Space for Indigenous Stories	$225,000
Edmonton	MULTICULTURAL HEALTH BROKERS CO-OPERATIVE LTD.	Edmonton Living Rooms	$160,000
Edmonton	SOCIÉTÉ FRANCOPHONE DES ARTS VISUELS DE L'ALBERTA	Ne prends pas la Grosse Tête et viens à la Fête!	$38,000
Edmonton	EDMONTON NORTHLANDS	A Proud, Strong & Diverse Canada: Progressing Together From Past to Future	$15,000
Edmonton	BISSET SCHOOL	Native Hoop Dancing	$11,622.45
Edmonton	NORQUEST COLLEGE	My Canada Includes / Mon Canada Comprend Campaign	$44,500
Edson	TOWN OF EDSON	The Great Canadian	$10,000
Sherwood Park	FESTIVAL PLACE CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION	The Park Chautauqua	$46,564
Slave Lake	TOWN OF SLAVE LAKE	Slave Lake's Canada 150 Mosaic Mural	$10,000
Tofield	TOWN OF TOFIELD	Commemorative Tree Planting Project	$12,500
		TOTAL	$645,021.45

Data Tables – Celebrate Canada

City	Name of organization	Name of activity	Amount
Alberta Beach	ALBERTA BEACH & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE	Alberta Beach 150^th Canada Day Celebrations	$1,500
Alix	VILLAGE OF ALIX	Canada 150	$1,025
Bentley	TOWN OF BENTLEY	Celebrating Canada's 150^th Birthday	$1,000
Blackfalds	TOWN OF BLACKFALDS	2017 Canada Day Celebrations	$2,625
Bon Accord	TOWN OF BON ACCORD	Canada Day 150^th Celebration	$2,000
Bonnyville	ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE-FRANÇAISE DE L'ALBERTA, RÉGIONALE DE BONNYVILLE / COLD LAKE	Célébrer notre identité	$900
Bonnyville	TOWN OF BONNYVILLE	Canada Day	$5,000
Bruderheim	TOWN OF BRUDERHEIM	Canada Day Celebrations	$1,300
Camrose	CAMROSE ARTS SOCIETY	National Aboriginal Day Celebrations	$1,200
Camrose	CITY OF CAMROSE	Celebrate Canada	$7,550
Canyon Creek	CANYON CREEK RECREATION ASSOCIATION	Debbie Seppola Annual Canada Day Parade	$800
Carstairs	TOWN OF CARSTAIRS	Carstairs Canada Day Celebration	$2,500
Cold Lake	CITY OF COLD LAKE	Canada Day Celebrations 2017	$5,000
Consort	VILLAGE OF CONSORT	Celebrate Canada 150	$1,000
Coronation	TOWN OF CORONATION	Canada Day 150^th Anniversary Celebration 2017	$1,200
County of Barrhead	THE NEERLANDIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY	Neerlandia Celebration of Canada 150	$1,800
Darwell	BIRCHWOOD ESTATES COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY	Canada Day	$600
Daysland	DAYSLAND & DISTRICT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION	Canada Day Family Celebration 2017	$2,000
Didsbury	TOWN OF DIDSBURY	Canada Day	$1,450
Donalda	VILLAGE OF DONALDA	Donalda Canada Day Celebration	$1,100
Drayton Valley	TOWN OF DRAYTON VALLEY	Canada Day Celebration	$3,000
Eckville	TOWN OF ECKVILLE	Canada Day Celebrations	$1,450
Edmonton	ALBERTA GUJARATI ASSOCIATION	Canada Day Picnic	$800
Edmonton	BISSELL CENTRE	National Aboriginal Day Celebration	$1,100
Edmonton	CANADIAN MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION	Canadian Multiculturalism Day: Celebrating A Multicultural Canada at 150	$1,000
Edmonton	CASTLEDOWNS RECREATION SOCIETY	Canada Day Party in the Park	$2,500
Edmonton	CHINESE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION OF EDMONTON	Canada Day Evening Celebration in Edmonton's Heritage Chinatown with a night market	$2,025
Edmonton	CREATING HOPE SOCIETY OF ALBERTA	Nipawi Wici Wicehtowin (Stand-up Together in Unity)	$5,000
Edmonton	MUSLIM ASSOCIATION OF CANADA (MAC)	Celebrate 150 Canada Day	$1,000
Edmonton	NORQUEST COLLEGE	Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day	$2,500
Edmonton	ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BRANCH #175	Canada Day	$1,100
Edmonton	ST. MICHAEL'S EXTENDED CARE CENTRE SOCIETY	Let us Celebrate St. Michael's Cultural Day	$900
Edson	TOWN OF EDSON	Canada Day 2017	$2,800
Entwistle	ENTWISTLE COMMUNITY LEAGUE	Entwistle Celebrates Canada 150	$1,200
Fairview	TOWN OF FAIRVIEW	Canada Day Festivities	$3,000
Ferintosh	VILLAGE OF FERINTOSH	Canada Day 2017	$800
Fort McMurray	REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF WOOD BUFFALO	Canada Day Celebrations	$9,000
Fort Saskatchewan	CITY OF FORT SASKATCHEWAN	Canada Day Celebrations	$12,000
Fort Saskatchewan	FORT SASKATCHEWAN MULTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION	One World...One Day...	$800
Gibbons	TOWN OF GIBBONS	Gibbons Canada Day Celebration	$700
Grande Cache	WILLMORE WILDERNESS PRESERVATION AND HISTORICAL FOUNDATION	Celebrate Canadian Rocky Mountain Traditions & Culture	$1,200
Grande Prairie	CITY OF GRANDE PRAIRIE CANADA DAY COMMITTEE	Grande Prairie Canada Day & National Aboriginal Day Celebrations	$25,425
High Prairie	BIG LAKES COUNTY	Celebrate Canada: Celebrate Our Community!	$1,700
Hines Creek	END OF STEEL HERITAGE SOCIETY	Canada Day Celebration	$1,000
Innisfail	INNISFAIL AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY	Canada Day Celebration	$1,750
Jasper	ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE-FRANCAISE DE L'ALBERTA, RÉGIONALE DE JASPER	Saint-Jean-Baptiste, fête du Canada et Journée nationale des autochtones	$2,100
Kitscoty	VILLAGE OF KITSCOTY	2017 Celebrate Kitscoty - Canada Day 150	$2,000
La Crete	LA CRETE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY	Celebrate Canada in La Crete 2017	$3,000
Lac La Biche	LAC LA BICHE MISSION HISTORICAL SOCIETY	Canada Day Celebration	$5,500
Lacombe	LACOMBE & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY	Celebrate Canada at the Lacombe Museums	$1,700
Lacombe	LACOMBE REGIONAL TOURISM AND MARKETING ASSOCIATION	Lacombe Community Celebration of Canada's Birthday and 150 years of Confederation	$6,000
Lake Louise	LAKE LOUISE SPORT AND RECREATION SOCIETY	Lake Louise Celebrates Canada 150^th	$5,000
Lamont	TOWN OF LAMONT	Canada Day Celebrations	$1,000
Lancaster Park	EDMONTON GARRISON MILITARY FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE SOCIETY	Fête de la Saint-Jean Baptiste	$1,500
Leduc	CITY OF LEDUC	2017 Canada Day Celebration	$4,500
Lloydminster	CITY OF LLOYDMINSTER	Canada Day Celebration 2017	$10,000
Loon Lake	LOON RIVER FIRST NATION	National Aboriginal Day/ Canada Day	$3,350
Ma-Me-O Beach	SUMMER VILLAGE OF GRANDVIEW	Canada Day and 50^th Anniversary of Summer Village Celebration	$1,100
Mannville	VILLAGE OF MANNVILLE	Mannville Canada Day Celebrations	$1,800
Mayerthorpe	TOWN OF MAYERTHORPE	Canada Day Celebrations	$1,400
Millet	TOWN OF MILLET	Canada Day Celebrations	$1,100
Morinville	TOWN OF MORINVILLE	Canada Day Celebrations	$3,000
Mundare	TOWN OF MUNDARE	Canada Day Street Festival	$1,200
Myrnam	VILLAGE OF MYRNAM	Canada Day 2017 - Celebrating 150 Years	$1,600
Nisku	LEDUC COUNTY	New Serepta Canada Day 150	$1,000
Olds	TOWN OF OLDS	Town of Olds Celebrates National Aboriginal Day and Canada Day 150	$4,500
Onoway	SUMMER VILLAGE OF ISLAND LAKE	Summer Village of Island Lake Family Canada Day Celebration	$600
Onoway	TOWN OF ONOWAY	Onoway Family Canada Day Celebration	$1,000
Paddle Prairie	PADDLE PRAIRIE MÉTIS SETTLEMENT	Canada Day 150 Celebration	$1,300
Peace River	TOWN OF PEACE RIVER	2017 Town of Peace River Canada Day Celebration	$2,300
Pickardville	PICKARDVILLE COMMUNITY LEAGUE 2014	Canada Day Celebration 2017	$1,500
Ponoka	TOWN OF PONOKA	2017 Canada Day Celebrations	$2,400
Provost	TOWN OF PROVOST	Canada Day Celebration 2017	$1,500
Rainbow Lake	TOWN OF RAINBOW LAKE	Canada Day Celebrations	$2,000
Red Deer	ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE-FRANÇAISE DE L'ALBERTA, RÉGIONALE DE RED DEER	St-Jean Baptiste Party et Fête du Canada 150	$2,000
Red Deer	RED DEER NATIVE FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY	National Aboriginal Day	$1,600
Red Deer	SHINING MOUNTAINS LIVING COMMUNITY SERVICES	Sharing Cultures	$2,100
Rimbey	TOWN OF RIMBEY	Canada Day Celebrations	$3,000
Ross Haven	ROSS HAVEN COMMUNITY LEAGUE	Canada Day 150 Celebration	$2,000
Rycroft	VILLAGE OF RYCROFT	Canada Day Celebrations 2017	$2,500
Sedgewick	SEDGEWICK AND DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY	July 1^st Fireworks	$2,000
Sherwood Park	STRATHCONA COUNTY	Canada Day 2017	$20,000
Slave Lake	TOWN OF SLAVE LAKE	Canada Day 2017	$4,500
Smoky Lake	TOWN OF SMOKY LAKE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES (FCSS)	Celebrate Canada Day 150	$800
Smoky Lake County	MÉTIS CROSSING FOUNDATION	National Aboriginal Day Celebration at Métis Crossing	$3,000
Spirit River	MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF SPIRIT RIVER	Canada Day Celebration 2016, Municipal District of Spirit River	$2,000
Spruce Grove	CITY OF SPRUCE GROVE	Canada Day Celebration	$12,000
St. Albert	ST. ALBERT NATIONAL ABORIGINAL DAY CELEBRATION SOCIETY	St. Albert National Aboriginal Day Celebration	$1,700
St. Paul	TOWN OF ST. PAUL	Canada Day Multicultural Festivities	$3,000
Sundre	TOWN OF SUNDRE	Canada Day Celebration	$2,200
Sylvan Lake	ROTARY CLUB OF SYLVAN LAKE AND DISTRICT	Rotary Club of Sylvan Lake-Canada Day Celebrations	$3,000
Thorhild	THORHILD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION	Canada Day Parade	$700
Tofield	TOFIELD'S JULY 1ST CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE	Tofield's July 1^st and 150 Year Celebration	$2,200
Tomahawk	TOMAHAWK AND DISTRICT SPORTS AGRICULTURE SOCIETY	Tomahawk Canada Day Celebrations	$1,030
Two Hills	TOWN OF TWO HILLS	Happy 150^th Anniversary Canada	$1,650
Vegreville	KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL 4249	Canada Day Celebrations	$3,000
Vermilion	TOWN OF VERMILION	Multiculturalism and Canada Day Celebration 2017	$3,000
Warburg	PIONEER AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY	Warburg Heritage Days	$1,500
Waskatenau	VILLAGE OF WASKATENAU	Waskatenau Canada Day Celebration	$425
Westlock	FRIENDS OF WESTLOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SOCIETY	WES Aboriginal Day Celebration	$2,000
Westlock	TOWN OF WESTLOCK	Canada Day Celebrations	$2,500
Whitecourt	TOWN OF WHITECOURT	Celebrate Canada 2017	$6,000
Willingdon	WILLINGDON SENIOR CITIZENS ASSOCIATION WILLINGDON ALBERTA	Willingdon and District Canada Day Celebrations	$900
		TOTAL	$292,555

SOURCE Canadian Heritage

(media only), please contact: Pierre-Olivier Herbert, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, 819-997-7788; Media Relations, Canadian Heritage, 819-994-9101, 1-866-569-6155, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.pch.gc.ca