The year 2014 marks a special moment in the life of our country. In the lead up to the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, Canada will commemorate a broad range of anniversaries that speak to the essence of nation building. Some of these include:
- 200th: birth of Sir George-Étienne Cartier (2014) and Sir John A. Macdonald (2015)
- 175th: birth of Sir Wilfrid Laurier (2016)
- 150th: Charlottetown and Québec City conferences (2014)
- 125th: Stanley Cup (2017)
- 100th:
- outbreak of the First World War (2014)
- defining battles (The Somme and Beaumont Hamel, 2016); Passchendaele and Vimy Ridge, 2017)
- women’s suffrage (2016)
- creation of the National Hockey League (2017)
- 75th: outbreak of the Second World War (2014)
Battle of Hong Kong (2016)
Dieppe Raid (2017)
- 50th: National Flag of Canada (2015)
Order of Canada (2017)
Canada Games (2017)
Two key dates will be a cause of great celebration: July 1, 2017, is the sesquicentennial of the Dominion of Canada, while September 10, 2015, marks the date when the reign of Queen Elizabeth II will surpass that of her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, thus making her the longest reigning Sovereign of Canada.
These and many other regionally based anniversaries will be a source of great pride for all Canadians. Therefore, it is fitting that The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visit with Canadians as we now enter this significant period of commemoration and celebration, and continue to build a society and a country that is truly the envy of the world. All Canadians have reason to commemorate our past while celebrating the spirit of nation building that is alive and well in all regions of our country—reflecting our pride in our accomplishments, and confidence in our future.
