Canada 150: Calgary Will Be at the Heart of the Celebrations

The Government of Canada supports Celebrate Canada festivities in communities across the country

CALGARY, May 25, 2017 /CNW/ - The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Associate Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament (Calgary Centre), along with Darshan Kang, Member of Parliament (Calgary Skyview), today announced $700,000 in funding for the City of Calgary's "Calgary Celebrates Canada 150" public celebration on July 1. Minister Hehr made this announcement on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

This funding will allow the City of Calgary to offer enhanced Canada Day celebrations at some of the city's most iconic venues, including Prince's Island Park, Olympic Plaza, East Village, Chinatown, Riverfront Avenue, Eau Claire Market, Festival Market Park and Fort Calgary. Residents and visitors alike will be treated to a range of activities featuring local and national artists, as well as Francophone and Indigenous performances. Thanks to Government of Canada support, major celebrations will be taking place in Calgary and 18 other urban centres across the country to celebrate Canada Day like never before.

The Government of Canada has also invested in more than 1,500 Canada-wide projects and activities as part of Celebrate Canada—which includes National Aboriginal Day, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, Canadian Multiculturalism Day and Canada Day—placing communities at the heart of Canada 150 celebrations. A total of $179,435 has been invested in the greater Calgary region and Southern Alberta through this program (see attached backgrounder). Celebrate Canada festivities are an opportunity to highlight what makes communities across the country so unique, diverse and vibrant.

The government is proud to support local, regional and national activities designed to help Canadians across the country take part in celebrations, and to make 2017 an unforgettable year.

Quotes

"Canada 150 is a unique opportunity for communities to celebrate all that it means to be Canadian. Celebrations will be taking place across the country, culminating with Canada Day. Join friends and family and take part in these celebrations during this exceptional year!"

—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

"In this year of celebrating Canada 150, Canada Day festivities will highlight what makes our country unique, diverse and vibrant. I invite all Albertans to take part in the activities throughout the Celebrate Canada period. On this important anniversary, take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to celebrate everything that makes Canada a great place to live."

—The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Associate Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament (Calgary Centre)

"We have so much history and culture to celebrate and take pride in this year. Anyone who has ever been to our great city knows its boundless enthusiasm, its deep sense of community spirit, and its shared values and traditions. I look forward to seeing Calgarians come together in this especially memorable year to honour all the wonderful things that make us proud to call this place home."

—Darshan Kang, Member of Parliament (Calgary Skyview)

"We are thrilled to be the Canada 150 celebration site for Southern Alberta. Canadian Heritage's support will make this Canada Day in Calgary an amazing experience for all."

—His Worship Naheed Nenshi, Mayor of Calgary

Quick Facts

Celebrate Canada is a period of four celebrations, beginning on June 21 and concluding with a major celebration for Canada Day on July 1. In honour of Canada 150, this year's edition 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 Day, 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.

The 2017 Celebrate Canada period 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, funded by the Canada 150 Fund, will also provide opportunities for Canadians to participate in celebrations in their communities. These projects will showcase the talent and expertise of our various communities, as well as the many facets of Canada's diversity.

Related Products

May 18 news release on major celebrations

URL link (coming soon)

Associated Links

Canada 150: Come out and celebrate!

http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1468854891549/1469215680151

Data Tables

City	Name of organization	Name of activity	Amount
Acme	VILLAGE OF ACME ADVISORY COMMITTEE	Canada Day Celebration	$1,300
Airdrie	AIRDRIE PARADE COMMITTEE	Canada Day 2017	$7,500
Bow Island	TOWN OF BOW ISLAND	Canada's 150 Bow Island Community Celebration	$1,500
Brooks	BROOKS AND DISTRICT MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY	Brooks and District Museum Canada Day 2017 – 150^th Anniversary Celebration	$2,500
Brooks	CITY OF BROOKS	Celebrate Canada - Canada Day in Brooks	$7,500
Calgary	AMRIT SAGAR FOUNDATION	Senior Our Heritage – Celebrating Multiculture in Canada – 150 Anniversary	$1,600
Calgary	CALGARY CANADA DAY COMMITTEE	Canada Day 2017	$9,600
Calgary	CITADEL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION	These are the People in my Neighbourhood	$3,000
Calgary	COMMONWEALTH ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS	Indigenous Heritage Roundtable/Peace & Reconciliation Walk/Tour of Indigenous Heritage Site	$2,030
Calgary	F.O.C.U.S. ON SENIORS ASSOCIATION	Happy 150^th Birthday Canada!	$1,500
Calgary	FORT CALGARY PRESERVATION SOCIETY	Canada Day at Fort Calgary	$10,000
Calgary	HISPANIC ARTS SOCIETY	Canada Day Celebration with Expo Latino	$3,200
Calgary	SOCIÉTÉ DU CENTRE SCOLAIRE COMMUNAUTAIRE DE CALGARY	Calgary Saint Jean-Baptiste 2017	$1,300
Calgary	SOUTHERN ALBERTA EMPLOYMENT EQUITY & DIVERSITY COMMITTEE	National Aboriginal Day Celebration	$1,000
Cardston	SAMI'S EARTHSTONE GIFTS	Aboriginal Day Celebrations	$800
Cardston	TOWN OF CARDSTON	Canada Day Party in the Park	$3,000
Chestermere	CITY OF CHESTERMERE	Canada Day Celebration	$3,500
Claresholm	TOWN OF CLARESHOLM	Canada Day Celebrations	$2,200
Coaldale	TOWN OF COALDALE	150 Years of Canada: A Celebration of Us	$1,400
Coalhurst	TOWN OF COALHURST	Canada Day Celebration	$1,000
Coleman	COLEMAN COMMUNITY SOCIETY	Canada Day	$2,000
Cochrane	TOWN OF COCHRANE	Cochrane Canada 150 Celebration	$3,500
Coutts	VILLAGE OF COUTTS	Canada Day 2017	$525
Drumheller	TOWN OF DRUMHELLER	Town of Drumheller Canada Day Celebrations 2017	$4,900
Fort Macleod	FORT MUSEUM OF THE NORTH WEST MOUNTED POLICE AND FIRST NATIONS INTERPRETIVE CENTRE	Canada Day 2017	$1,900
Hanna	TOWN OF HANNA	Celebrate Canada Day	$2,000
Hill Spring	HILL SPRING RECREATION BOARD	Canada Day	$1,250
High River	TOWN OF HIGH RIVER	Canada Day Celebration	$5,000
Irricana	TOWN OF IRRICANA	Irricana Canada Day 150	$1,300
Lethbridge	ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE-FRANÇAISE DE L'ALBERTA RÉGIONALE DE LETHBRIDGE	Fête de la St-Jean Baptiste 2017	$2,000
Lethbridge	CITY OF LETHBRIDGE	Canada Day 2017	$7,500
Lethbridge	SIR ALEXANDER GALT MUSEUM & ARCHIVES	Celebrate Canada at the Galt Museum and Archives & Fort Whoop-Up	$3,500
Lomond	VILLAGE OF LOMOND	Canada Day Celebration	$800
Medicine Hat	GOLDEN SHEAF RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION	Canada Day in the Park	$1,250
Medicine Hat	MEDICINE HAT AND DISTRICT CANADA DAY SOCIETY	Canada Day Festival 2017	$18,000
Pincher Creek	PINCHER CREEK AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY	Canada Day 2017	$1,500
Pincher Creek	TOWN OF PINCHER CREEK	Canada's 150^th Birthday Celebration	$4,000
Raymond	TOWN OF RAYMOND	Canada Day 2017	$2,500
Redwood	REDWOOD MEADOWS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION	Redwood Meadows and area Canada Day event	$2,400
Rosemary	ROSEMARY COMMUNITY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY	Rosemary Celebrates Canada's 150^th Birthday	$4,000
Strathmore	TOWN OF STRATHMORE	Canada Day Festival 2017	$5,000
Taber	TOWN OF TABER	Canada Day Celebrations 2017	$2,230
Trochu	TROCHU AND DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY	Canada Day Celebrations	$1,750
Vauxhall	TOWN OF VAUXHALL	2017 Canada Day Celebrations	$2,000
Vulcan	TOWN OF VULCAN	Canada Day Celebration	$1,000

SOURCE Canadian Heritage

For more information (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