Happy New Year!
Only 1 year until we celebrate Canada’s 150th Anniversary of Confederation!
Canada 150: Join the Celebration!
In 2017 Canada will mark the 150th anniversary of Confederation. This is your celebration! How will you join Canadians taking part from coast to coast to coast? The Canada 150 adventure awaits you
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Milestones
On the road to the 150th anniversary of Confederation, we will mark a broad range of significant anniversaries and accomplishments that have made Canada the strong, proud and free country it is today. In 2015, these include the 200th anniversary of the birth of Sir John A. Macdonald and the 50th anniversary of the National Flag of Canada. We will also mark two important commemorations from the First World War: the 100th anniversary of the Second Battle of Ypres and the writing of “In Flanders Field.”
In 2016, the 175th anniversary of the Election of Baldwin and Lafontaine – Leaders for Responsible Government, the 175th anniversary of Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s birth, the 150th anniversary of the Fenian Raids and the Centennial of women’s suffrage will be part of the anniversaries that will be celebrated along with the Centennial of the Battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel (First World War) and the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Hong Kong.
Learn about those key nation-building milestones that have defined our country and made us who we are today.
175th anniversary of the Election of Baldwin and Lafontaine – Leaders for Responsible Government
In 1841, Sir Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin, as well as Joseph Howe in Nova Scotia, worked to establish a responsible government, the system that we have today. Lafontaine, a champion of democracy and French-language rights, became the first leader of a responsible government.
175th anniversary of Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s birth
The first French-Canadian Prime Minister after Confederation, Sir Wilfrid Laurier (born November 20, 1841) encouraged immigration to the West of Canada. Laurier was Prime Minister during a period of major industrialization and oversaw the inclusion of Alberta and Saskatchewan into Confederation. In 1910, he led the creation of the Royal Canadian Navy.
150th anniversary of the Fenian Raids
The raids of 1866 furthered the cause of Confederation by encouraging a united defence. The defence of the extensive Canadian border against Irish-American raiders was victorious and showed the devotion of Canadians to their nation. A number of Canadian Forces regiments can trace their heritage back to this time period.
Centennial of women’s suffrage
The first provinces to grant women the right to vote in 1916 were Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. This was an early step in the path to equality and women’s rights.
Centennial of the Battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel (First World War)
While this historic offensive decimated the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, it also prepared Canadians for their success at Vimy Ridge. The battalion was subsequently recognized for its unwavering bravery in the face of trying conditions.
Learn more about commemorating the centennial of the First World War.
75th anniversary of the Battle of Hong Kong
The battle of Hong Kong was 17 and a half days of intense fighting. When Allied forces were overrun on Christmas Day, December 25, 1941, those who had survived the battle found themselves in what would become four years of captivity in prisoner-of-war and Japanese work camps.
Learn more about commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Second World War.
Towards Confederation
The Fathers of Confederation first dreamed of a united Canada, prosperous, proud, strong and free…
Great Canadian North
Join us this year as we celebrate the Great Canadian North.
World War Commemorations
Learn more about the Commemorations of what contributed to the Canada we know today.
Here’s our upcoming calendar of events happening in 2016
Wednesday, July 1st, 2016 :
Our 9th Annual Multicultural Canada Day Celebrations at Yonge Dundas Square.
Other Events of interest:
Other Out-of-Province Events in 2016
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Celebrate life and culture with world-class entertainment, delicious authentic food and beautiful cultural displays at Folklorama, the largest and longest-running multicultural festival of its kind in the world (as determined by the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts). Explore one of the most vibrant arts and culture scenes found in the heart of the continent during the first two weeks of August. Join friends and family and experience the world’s cultures in Winnipeg in August 2016. More info
Drummondville, Quebec
World Cultures (formerly World Folklore Festival) is a festival to discover the different facets of world traditions every summer at the beginning of July to Woodyatt Park Drummondville, a town in the region of Centre-du-Québec . The event was founded in 1982, after members of the Mackinaw folk ensemble had participated in a similar festival in Dijon, France. The 34th edition of the festival will take place in July 2016. More info