Ottawa, Ontario, June 21, 2011 -- On Saturday, July 16, Parks Canada will celebrate Parks Day through a series of free events and concerts organized in the very heart of the major Canadian cities of Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver.
“We want to reach out to young Canadians in our cities on the occasion of Parks Canada Centennial to connect with our country’s natural and historic treasures." declared the Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada.
Beginning at noon, Parks Canada will invade the heart of Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver to offer Canadian families and young people a program of events including free performances involving some of the most prominent names in the Canadian art scene.
In Montréal, the Lachine Canal National Historic Site will play host to the Québécois group Les Trois Accords, followed by singer Marie-Mai. In Toronto, Centre Island will be resonating to the sound of Toronto rock band Skydiggers, followed by the rhythm of tunes by singer songwriter composers Serena Ryder, of Toronto, and Sarah Harmer, of Burlington. Finally, at Stanley Park’s Brockton Point in Vancouver, the young singer songwriter composer Kate Morgan from Kamloops, the Saskatoon rock band The Sheepdogs, and the Neo Canadian hip hop singer K’naan, a native of Somalia, will play back to back.
"Canadians are changing and no longer have the same connection with nature as their parents and grandparents once did," explained Mr. Alan Latourelle, Chief Executive Officer of Parks Canada. “Parks Canada is adapting by going into the very heart of cities to make Canadians more aware of the beauty of these historic, natural and cultural sites that comprise our collective heritage, and which we are protecting on their behalf."
Established in 1911 as the Dominion Parks Branch, Parks Canada Agency was the first service for parks and national historic sites in the world. Since then, Parks Canada has been a worldwide leader in protecting and preserving natural and historic treasures.
Parks Canada would like to thank our national centennial partners: Canada Post, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Royal Canadian Mint, and VIA Rail.
For more information on these activities, please consult the backgrounder on the same topic at www.parkscanada.gc.ca, under Media Room.
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Information:
Media Relations
Parks Canada
819-994-3023
www.twitter.com/parkscanada
Backgrounder associated with this News Release.
Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver Celebrate Parks Canada’s Centennial with Renowned Canadian Artists
