Celebration, Commemoration and Learning Directorate

This Directorate is responsible to ensure a federal integrated and dynamic approach to celebrations, commemorations and learning.

A five-year plan entitled Canada 2004-2008: 400 Years of Dialogue and Discovery provides thematics for the upcoming years for celebration, commemoration and learning about Canada:

2004: l'Acadie - First Dialogues (the meeting of two worlds) will commemorate the thousands of years of Aboriginal Presence and Culture in America and the voyage of Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons, Samuel de Champlain and their companions to l'Île-Ste-Croix in 1604.

2005: Canada from East to West (building the Canadian geographical and political space) The key milestones in 2005 are the 100th anniversaries of Alberta and Saskatchewan into Confederation.

2006: A Canada of Prosperity and Sharing (building a Canadian economic and social space) Looking at Canadian economic prosperity and the tradition of collective responsibility, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Canada Pension Plan.

2007: Democratic Canada (building of a Canadian civic and cultural space) In 2007, Canada will celebrate the 140th anniversary of Confederation, as well as the 25th anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

2008: Québec: First Canadian City (looking at our origins and looking towards the future) The milestones in 2008 are the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec City and the centennial of the National Battlefields Commission.

The main activities under the Celebration component is the design and delivery of the Celebrate Canada! program which provides seed funding for celebrations across Canada; the organization of the Canada Day noon time ceremony on Parliament Hill; and the Poster Challenge.

The Directorate through its Commemoration policy is responsible for recognizing the country's diverse and exceptional figures, places and accomplishments as well as enhancing knowledge, appreciation and understanding of the history of Canada through a comprehensive national program of commemoration which complements other federal programs. Recent commemorations include: a Royal Proclamation designating July 28 of every year as a Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval; the Korean War Veterans monument; the Maurice Richard monument; the Famous Five monument and the commemorative service for the victims of September 11.

Learning materials and resource guides are being developed to accompany the five-year annual themes. The Activity Guide for the Canada Day Poster Challenge is an example of learning materials developed.