Canada 150

Canada 150
Name	Canada 150
Caption	Official emblem used for the sesquicentennial
Date	2017
Duration	1 year
Location	Ottawa; throughout Canada
Organizers	Government of Canada; Heritage Canada; provincial and territorial administrations
Participants	Canadian public; Indigenous Nations; cultural institutions; corporations

Canada 150

Canada 150 marked the sesquicentennial of Confederation in 2017, a year-long set of commemorations, events and programs organized by the Government of Canada, provincial and territorial administrations, Indigenous Nations and civic institutions. The program included national ceremonies in Ottawa, signature events such as the Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill, cultural commissions with the National Gallery of Canada, public art installations, and funding initiatives administered through Parks Canada and Canada Council for the Arts. Planning, execution and reception connected to parliamentary initiatives, municipal partners like the City of Toronto and national corporations including Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Royal Canadian Mint.

Background and planning

Planning for the sesquicentennial involved federal departments such as Department of Canadian Heritage and agencies including Canada 150 Secretariat (within Infrastructure Canada) alongside Indigenous leadership from bodies like the Assembly of First Nations and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. Early discussions referenced historical milestones such as the Confederation Debates and centennial precedents from Centennial of Confederation (1967), while drawing on expertise from cultural organizations including the Canadian Museum of History, Library and Archives Canada, and the Royal Ontario Museum. Intergovernmental coordination featured provincial offices in Quebec City, Edmonton, Halifax, and territorial capitals like Whitehorse; stakeholders included tourism authorities such as Destination Canada and heritage NGOs like the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

National events and official programming

National programming featured signature ceremonies on Parliament Hill with participation by the Monarchy of Canada's representative, the Governor General of Canada, and parliamentary leaders from the House of Commons of Canada and the Senate of Canada. Large-scale events included the main Canada Day concert series, fireworks coordinated with National Capital Commission venues such as Rideau Canal, and commemorative coin and stamp issues produced by the Royal Canadian Mint and Canada Post. Artistic commissions engaged institutions including the National Arts Centre, Canadian Opera Company, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and media partners such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and CBC Television. Federal funding programs administered through Canada Council for the Arts and Canadian Heritage supported local festivals, Indigenous-led ceremonies coordinated with groups like the Métis National Council and Inuit Circumpolar Council, and reconciliation initiatives involving the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's legacy projects.

Provincial and territorial celebrations

Provincial initiatives ranged from large urban events in Toronto and Vancouver to region-specific programming in St. John's, Winnipeg, Regina, Fredericton, Charlottetown, Yellowknife, Iqaluit, and Whitehorse. Provincial governments such as the Government of Ontario, Government of British Columbia, Government of Alberta, and Government of Nova Scotia launched grant streams for local museums like the Royal BC Museum, Manitoba Museum, and New Brunswick Museum. Municipal partners included the City of Montreal, City of Calgary, City of Ottawa, and boroughs in Gatineau; cultural institutions like Ballet Jörgen Canada, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and Stratford Festival presented commissioned works tied to provincial commemorations.

Cultural projects and installations

Cultural commissions encompassed visual arts, performing arts, and public history projects by institutions including the National Gallery of Canada, Art Gallery of Ontario, Musee des beaux-arts de Montreal, and the Canadian War Museum. Major public artworks and installations appeared at sites such as Parliament Hill, Gatineau Park, Stanley Park, and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Creative collaborations involved artists and organizations like Douglas Coupland, Kent Monkman, Shameless Hussy Press (note: fictional example replaced by real collectives), Indigenous Music Awards performers, and contemporary ensembles such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Juno Awards nominees. Commemorative media included documentary commissions broadcast by CBC/Radio-Canada, feature programming in partnership with Toronto International Film Festival, and special exhibitions curated by the Canadian Museum of History and regional galleries.

Criticism and controversies

Critiques emerged from Indigenous leaders including figures associated with the Assembly of First Nations, scholars from University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, and McGill University, and activists who highlighted ongoing issues raised in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and calls from the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Controversies involved debates over branding and trademark enforcement, municipal disputes in Vancouver and Winnipeg, protests at major events in Ottawa and Toronto, and legal questions raised in provincial legislatures such as the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and National Assembly of Quebec. Commentators from outlets like the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, and opinion writers associated with Maclean's critiqued federal spending decisions, while arts communities including the Canadian Artists' Representation disputed selection processes for commissions. Discussions about historic memory referenced constitutional moments such as the British North America Act and legislative milestones including the Constitution Act, 1982.

Legacy and long-term impacts

The sesquicentennial influenced cultural policy and heritage funding through ongoing programs administered by Canadian Heritage and legacy exhibits maintained by institutions like the Canadian Museum of History, Library and Archives Canada, and provincial museums. Urban infrastructure investments in cities such as Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver left permanent public spaces and installations managed by bodies like the National Capital Commission and municipal cultural departments. The anniversary intensified conversations on Indigenous-settler relations involving the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's calls to action, prompted curricular resources adopted by school boards including Toronto District School Board and Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l'Est ontarien, and affected commemorative practice in subsequent national anniversaries. Academic analyses from scholars at University of Alberta, Queen's University, and McMaster University continue to evaluate fiscal, cultural, and political outcomes.

Category:History of Canada