Can't-Miss Events for Canada's Big  2017 150th Birthday Bash

The countdown is on for Canada's sesquicentennial (good news is you still have time to practice saying sesquicentennial)

On July 1, 2017, Canada will celebrate the big 1-5-0, marking 150years since Confederation - when three colonies got together to form one united maple-syrup-hockey-and-poutine-loving country. From coast to coast, Canadians are going all-out with special themed events, activities and cultural exhibits. Here are 10 can't-miss experiences:

365 days of celebration in Ottawa: Canada's capital city of Ottawa is the locus of the birthday hooplah, with 12 full months of events. In March, catch the Red Bull Ice Cross Downhill World Championship, head-to-head downhill skating set right on the city's Rideau Canal. And don't miss Picnic on the Bridge on July 2, when the majestic span above the Ottawa River will be transformed into a grassy green for one special day. http://www.ottawa2017.ca/

Sesqui film experience takes the best of Canada on tour: Explore Canada from coast to coast - without ever leaving your seat - as part of this travelling multimedia experience. Sesqui features a 20-minute immersive film played inside a pair of domed theatres with surround sound and 360-degree visuals. Expect acrobats, drummers, dancers and even a few icebergs, rivers and rainforests thrown in for good measure.http://www.sesqui.ca/

The Arctic comes to the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa: Canada's iconic Arctic—untouched tundra, polar bears and majestic ice floes—is the focus of this all-new permanent gallery. To be unveiled in 2017, the exhibit showcases the high north as a rich cultural environment, with deep connections between landscape, wildlife and people. www.nature.ca

Booze and politics do mix on Canada's 150th in Toronto: Nothing brings Canadian history to life like a little booze. For Canada's sesquicentennial, join along on special “Booze and Politics” tours of Toronto's historic Distillery District. Learn about alcohol's magnum-sized role in Canada's early economy, the tumultuous Prohibition years and more. http://www.segwayofontario.com/

Experience the best of Canada's museums under one roof in Vancouver:  For the first time, seven major Canadian museums will be collaborating on an all-star travelling exhibit in 2017. Waterfront Canada Place in Vancouver will host the summer-long exhibition integrating works and artifacts from Winnipeg's Canadian Museum of Human Rights, Quebec's Canadian Museum of History, the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa and more. https://www.canadaplace.ca/canada-150/

Toronto International Film Festival debuts The Essential 150 Canadian masterpieces: In honour of the sesquicentennial, Toronto's famed film festival is unveiling a special collection of Canada's defining multimedia moments in 2017, called The Essential 150. The digitized works reflect who Canadians are as a people through vintage TV commercials, rare found footage, feature-length films and documentaries.http://tiff.net/

First Nations culture meets high-tech entertainment at KA'NATA: Experience Canada's aboriginal legacy like never before in this high-tech travelling show. A custom geodesic dome immerses viewers on all sides with lifelike projections and interactive tech. Rhythm, sound and imagery come together to tell the story of the country's diverse indigenous communities. http://www.kanatafoundation.com/#about

Explore the history of hockey (and more) in Ottawa: Coinciding with the National Hockey League's 100th anniversary, the Canadian Museum of History plans to unveil a special exhibit in 2017 on Canada's beloved game. In keeping with the icy theme, newly recovered artifacts from the legendary (and doomed) 1845 Franklin expedition to the Arctic will also be displayed. This is on top of a brand new history hall opening July 1, showing off the best of Canada from prehistoric times to the present. http://www.historymuseum.ca/ 

Live Canadian music: On tour from coast to coast: A unique tour bus packed with Canada's best music is coming to a city near you. The National Music Centre in Calgary, Alberta, is set to hit the road for this special tour in 2017. The goal: collect stories and music about people's experiences as Canadians, while helping Canada rock out .. one town at a time.

https://nmc.ca

Visit Canada's national parks: From the aquamarine lakes and snowcapped Rocky Mountains in Banff, Alberta, to the white-sand beaches and home of Anne of Green Gables on Prince Edward Island, explore all of Canada's natural riches in 2017. Celebration plans are underway, so visit their website for updates http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/index.aspx

Looking for more iconically Canadian birthday celebrations? From coast to coast, cities are pulling out all the stops for the country's 150th-anniversary bash. Keep updated with news in the lead up to the celebrations  via www.destinationcanada.com/media

For more media information please contact Ms. Nim Singh on 0207 389 9983 singh.nim@destinationcanada.com (not for publication)