NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF SAULT STE. MARIE
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Sault Ste. Marie, ON – To commemorate Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017, the Mayor’s Committee on Celebrate Canada 150 is planning a two week celebration of community and Canadian heritage. Canada 150 - Sault Ste. Marie Celebrates ‘A Long Road Travelled’ will feature activities on and around four national days: Aboriginal Day (June 21), St. Jean Baptiste Day (June 24), Multicultural Day (June 27) and Canada Day (July 1). Historyfest events will also be a key component.
“Canada 150 is a major milestone for our country. Locally, we’re looking forward to celebrating with activities and programming that reflect our community’s heritage and diversity,” says Mayor Christian Provenzano.
To help celebrate, Mayor Christian Provenzano has invited Canada’s first woman in Space, Saultite Dr. Roberta Bondar, to preside over Canada Day festivities as the City’s Honorary Ambassador for Canada 150. With 2017 marking the 25th anniversary of Dr. Bondar’s historic Space flight, January 22-30, 2017 has been proclaimed ‘Dr. Roberta Bondar Days’ in the City of Sault Ste. Marie. Happy 25th anniversary Dr. Bondar!
Committee co-chair, City Councillor Susan Myers says, “We’re thrilled that Dr. Bondar has agreed to serve as our Canada 150 ambassador. As we celebrate the history of both our country and our community, it seems fitting to also recognize the historymaking accomplishments and the milestone 25th anniversary of a Sault Ste. Marie trailblazer.”
The Canada 150 legacy component will feature the creation of a mural mosaic and it’s unveiling on Multicultural Day. The mural will be composed of 300 four-inch tiles making a beautiful 8 foot x 8 foot work of art. Once completed, it will be mounted, clear-coated and photographed. It will be permanently displayed in Sault Ste. Marie and connected virtually to other murals online at Canada150Mosaic.com.
Committee co-chair City Councillor Judy Hupponen says, “As a border community, it is a great time to demonstrate our Canadian identity and celebrate our rich Canadian heritage.”
For more information, visit saultstemarie.ca/Canada150.
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