“The Power of Public Imagination: Planning Canada's Sesquicentennial" is the first national publication to serve as a guide and a source of inspiration to all Canadians in the lead up to 2017.

The 150!Canada Conference was the starter’s pistol in the race towards 2017. For two days in March, 300 public servants, business leaders, social innovators, academics, and artists, met at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa to answer some important questions:

Are today’s Canadians willing to celebrate their country with the passion of Canadians in 1967?

Do we have the political energy and collective sense of purpose needed to imagine the Canada we want—and then work to make it happen in 2017?

The answer came back loud and clear: we do and we will.

The 150!Canada Conference report captures the ideas, principles, values, and recommendations put forward by the conference delegates in a series of roundtable discussions. It provides specific advice and guidelines for companies, community and cultural organizations, governments, and media outlets to weave into their five-year strategic plans. It calls for them to work closely together, champion local projects and uphold values such as sustainability, equality, inclusiveness, diversity and global citizenship.

Most of all, “The Power of Public Imagination” affirms that the Sesquicentennial should be led by citizens. Ultimately, it is ordinary people – the public – who will meaningful and relevant to all Canadians regardless of age, background, gender or language.


Download the report in English or French.