The maple leaf is sure to hold a position of prominence in Saanich this year.
Four ambassadors have been selected to help Saanich celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canadian confederation.
And those ambassadors – Coun. Vicki Sanders, Lyris Agarat, Michelle Sealey and Bill Williamson – are ready to give the community reason to wave the flag, and those patriotic displays won’t just be confined to July 1.
“Our role as 150th ambassadors is to see Saanich celebrate the anniversary throughout the year,” said Sanders. “We want people to know it’s about the whole year and that celebrating the 150th isn’t going to be a single event.”
While there will be 150th anniversary events throughout the year, the Gorge Canada Day Picnic will no doubt take on an even more festive tone for 2017. Saanich has increased its funding for the picnic by $5,000 to include elements of the 150th.
But the Gorge celebrations will just be one of many celebrations throughout the year. Saanich’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee, which is spearheading the plans for the celebrations, wants to see tributes to Canada’s 150th anniversary at the 19 major events on the calendar in Saanich this year. So you can expect to see maple leafs everywhere from Strawberry Fest to the Cadboro Day Festival.
“It’s going to be a celebration across Canada and it’s part of our legacy as Canada, so we want to make sure that we’re involved and that we can experience it coast to coast and share our heritage and values,” said Sanders
The year-long celebrations will also see a time capsule filled with local artifacts installed near the Saanich Municipal Hall 50th anniversary sign.
Canada has given us all plenty to celebrate. And we hope all Saanich residents take the opportunity to show their appreciation throughout the year.