17 Aug 2016
August 2017
Canada Turns 150 in 2017
The countdown has started. In 2017, Canada will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation. Throughout the year, celebrations will take place across the country to mark this important milestone in Canada's history.
The majority of the celebrations will involve local communities, promoting and celebrating the Canadian identity, our ethnic , linguistic , cultural and regional diversity and the country's rich history and heritage.
Although events are planned across the country, the capital city of Ottawa, will feature heavily in celebratory events. In June 2017, a new permanent Arctic Gallery opens at the Canadian Museum of Nature (www.nature.ca) and on Canada Day July 1st, the new Canadian History Hall will open at the Canadian Museum of History (www.historymuseum.ca) whilst in November 2017, the Canada Science and Technology Museum celebrates its 50th anniversary and re-opens after $80.5 M in building repairs and upgrades. The Bank of Canada Museum (formerly the Currency Museum of the Bank of Canada) reopens in a totally renovated building on Sparks Street (www.bankofcanadamuseum.ca). Museums aside, throughout 2017, Ignite 150 is a series of 17 epic stunts and gatherings throughout the capital, including a gourmet experience 50 metres in the air, and a Yoga session on a barge floating down a local waterway. In March 2017, the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championships feature athletes on skates hurtling down a massive ice track filled with high vertical drops and hairpin turns, all set above the Rideau Canal locks (www.redbullcrashedice.com/en_INT). Hydro Ottawa will open up the Chaudiere Falls with public viewing platforms and recognition of the sacredness of the space to Aboroginal People, whilst in the summer of 2017 Downtown Ottawa will be taken over by La Machines's roving, larger than life mechanical creatures. These are just a few snippets of what will be on offer.
Keep an eye on developments via these sites:
www.ottawatourism.ca/ottawa-in-2017
For visitors exploring further afield than Ottawa next year, Parks Canada, who represent Canada's National Parks will celebrate the anniversary by offering visitors, including international ones, free admission in 2017. The Government of Canada announced free admission for all Canadians and international visitors to national parks, national historic sites and national maritime conservation areas operated by Parks Canada and free lockage for recreational boaters on historic canals and waterways in 2017 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation.
www.pc.gc.ca/eng/voyage-travel/admission.aspx
For more information on Canada please go to www.explore-canada.co.uk
For more media information on Canada please go to www.destinationcanada.com/media
For more media information please contact Ms. Nim Singh on 0207 389 9983 singh.nim@destinationcanada.com or via Twitter @candanim (NOT FOR PUBLICATION)
