Canadians Invited to Participate in "Canada - Take It To Heart"
OTTAWA, February 9, 1996 The Honourable Sheila Copps, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Canadian Heritage, and the Honourable Lucienne Robillard, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, invite Canadians to participate in the "Canada Take it to Heart" initiative, which will take place from February 12 to February 19. This is a unique opportunity for Canadians to recognize and pay tribute to their citizenship, heritage and identity."Canada Take it to Heart" incorporates several annual events including National Citizenship Week, the anniversary of the Canadian flag (February 15) and Heritage Day (February 19). Events and activities will take place in communities throughout Canada, including special citizenship ceremonies, events to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Canadian flag and the celebration of Heritage Day.
"Canadians are showing a strong and growing desire to honour what we have accomplished as a country," said Minister Copps. "Out of commitment to Canada, people are coming together to recognize what a magnificent nation we all share and to look forward to the future with hope and pride."
"This week is an opportunity for all of us to join with our families, friends and neighbours to salute what is special and unique in our communities and in our country," said Minister Robillard. It will offer all Canadians the chance to recognize the importance of our identity, our citizenship and our heritage in our everyday lives."
This initiative is a partnership between the departments of Canadian Heritage and Citizenship and Immigration, working closely with individuals and groups from a variety of backgrounds, including national associations, community-based groups, the volunteer and private sectors and the Heritage Canada Foundation.
The week will be launched on Monday, February 12 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. A Citizenship and Reaffirmation ceremony will be followed by new citizens and Canadians by birth signing special maple leaves and attaching them to a symbolic tree to indicate our growing country and identity.
In Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the same day, Canadian astronaut Major Chris A. Hadfield will deliver the Second Annual Clifford Sifton Lecture on Being Canadian.
On February 15, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Minister Copps will be special guests at a flag-raising ceremony in Parc Jacques Cartier in the National Capital Region to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Canadian flag.
On February 16 students of Sisler High School in Winnipeg and École secondaire de l'Ile in Hull will be connected electronically as a launch for Youth Link, a project to encourage exchanges among youth through SchoolNet. The function will be attended in Hull by Industry Minister John Manley and Treasury Board Minister Marcel Massé and in Winnipeg by Deputy Prime Minister and Heritage Minister Sheila Copps and Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy.
Information on the functions is posted regularly on the Internet at:
http://www.pch.gc.ca/pch/whatsnew.html
http//www.pch.gc.ca/pch/whatnewf.html
http://cicnet.ingenia/comlenglish/whatsnew.html
http://cicnet.ingenia/com/french/whatnewf.html
http://www.maple.net/tgmag/canada.html.
Ministers Copps and Robillard will attend special events across the country. An itinerary is attached.
Information:
Duncan Dee
Press Secretary
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Canadian Heritage
Telephone: (819) 997-7788
Facsimile (819) 994-5987
Internet: duncan_dee@pch.gc.ca
John Oliver
Departmental spokesperson
Citizenship and Immigration
Tel. (819) 994-3763
Fax (819) 994-2579
[ Media Room ]
