Subjects: EXE, NTA, FVT
Wrapping up Canada 150 with Free Activities for the Whole Family!
Throughout December, Canadians and visitors are invited to participate, to celebrate and also to explore family-friendly activities to mark the end of Canada 150
OTTAWA, Nov. 22, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, and the Honorable Minister Kent Hehr, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, revealed the wide range of free, family-friendly activities happening throughout December to bid farewell to Canada 150.
They posed for a photo on Parliament Hill along with Stéphane Lauzon, Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Persons with Disabilities; Regional Chief Morley Googoo, Assembly of First Nations; Laurie Boschman, board member, Ottawa International Hockey Festival; Michel Paquet, Vice President and Counsel, Regulatory and Public Affairs, Manulife (exclusive sponsor of Christmas Lights Across Canada); and Heidi Bonnell, Vice President, Federal Government Affairs, Rogers Communications (official sponsor of Canada 150 Skating Day).
There will be something for everyone on Parliament Hill between December 7 and 31, including free public skating, sporting events, cultural demonstrations, on-site entertainment and Northern food tasting. At the heart of these celebrations will be the Canada 150 Rink, which will provide an iconic setting to round off what has been an amazing year for Canada. To give as many people as possible an opportunity to skate, residents and visitors will be able to go online and book their free 45-minute skating time 48 hours in advance by visiting www.canada150rink.com.
A ceremony to officially open the Canada 150 Rink will take place on the morning of December 7, followed by sport demonstrations and public skating. An illumination ceremony will be held at 7:00 p.m. that evening to kick off the 33rd edition of Christmas Lights Across Canada. The Winter Lightscapes multimedia show will be projected onto the Parliament Buildings in loop every night until January 7.
On December 9 and 10, Parliament Hill will host a food-tasting event that includes samplings of Northern delicacies such as caribou, Arctic Char and bannock, as well as cooking demonstrations featuring some of Canada's top chefs.
On December 10, special activities will be held at the rink on Parliament Hill to mark Canada 150 Skating Day. Events will also be taking place elsewhere in Canada's Capital Region, as well as in hundreds of communities from coast to coast to coast.
On December 13, the Centennial Flame will be unveiled with a beautiful new addition: the official symbols of Nunavut. This re-dedication ceremony will celebrate the fact that all provinces and territories from coast to coast to coast will now be equally represented on one of Canada's most beloved landmarks.
On December 16 and 17, there will be plenty of activities for everyone. Individuals and families can enjoy Métis jigging with Ginny Gonneau, take hand drum lessons from Nunavut Siviniksavut in a teepee with Aboriginal Experiences, participate in sporting events, and see local buskers such as the Cowguys Hockey Circus Show. There will also be juggling, hockey sticks, circus stunts, interactive fun and even a hockey shootout.
From December 26 to 31, the Canada 150 Skating Rink will host a youth hockey tournament in which 32 boys' and girls' peewee house-league teams will represent their province, territory or region to compete in a special Canada 150 division.
On December 30, community programming will continue with public skating, buskers and entertainment, which includes an interactive show by Rhythm Works that use body percussion, stomp-style drumming and beat-boxing.
On December 31, Ulnooweg Development Corporations will host a family-friendly event at the Canadian Museum of History to welcome the New Year in peace and friendship. Nimidiwin, the Algonquin word for "dancing," will provide a showcase of Indigenous culture. The show will feature the performance group Northern Cree, Juno award-winner Susan Aglukark and Indigenous performers from across Canada.
Canadians are also invited to ring in the New Year under the stars with a dance and skating party on Parliament Hill. The evening will close with a New Year's Eve countdown, pyrotechnics and a laser show.
Starting December 1, Canadians are invited to share their favorite Canada 150 moment on social media with the hashtag, #150moment.
The programming schedule is now available on the Canada 150 website.
For more information about the Canada 150 Rink on Parliament Hill, visit www.canada150rink.com.
Quotes
"Throughout this incredible year, Canadians from coast to coast to coast have come out to celebrate the many things that make our communities and our country such a great place to live. As we move into the last few weeks of Canada 150, I invite Canadians and visitors to Canada's Capital Region to take part in the wide range of free, family-friendly activities taking place throughout December."
?The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage
"What could be more Canadian than being outdoors with your family? Especially for these celebrations bidding farewell to Canada 150. There's something for everyone in this wide array of events, so be sure to get out and enjoy them!"
?The Honorable Minister Kent Hehr, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
"The Bell Capital Cup is one of the premier youth hockey tournaments in this country and a holiday tradition in Ottawa. The opportunity to play outdoors on Parliament Hill as part of Canada 150 will provide a pure and unique Canadian family hockey experience for the participating children and teams. The Ottawa International Hockey Festival is proud to partner with the Government of Canada on this exciting initiative."
?Todd White, Honorary Chair of the Ottawa International Hockey Festival and former Ottawa Senators hockey player
Quick Facts
A wide range of free family-friendly activities are happening throughout December on Parliament Hill to bid farewell to Canada 150 in Canada's Capital Region.
More than 300 communities from coast to coast to coast will participate in the Canada 150 closing celebrations by getting Canadians to lace up their skates for Canada 150 Skating Day on December 10.
Through the Canada 150 Fund, the Government of Canada has supported 729 initiatives that encourage Canadians and people across the world to participate, celebrate and explore our country in 2017.
Associated Links
Symbols of Nunavut To Be Added to the Centennial Flame
Canada 150 Skating Rink & Closing Events
SOURCE Canadian Heritage
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