Three years ago I started reading about Canada's Centennial Year. I was curious because whenever I talked to someone who remembered 1967, their face brightened. I started to realize that this was a very special year. As I dug a bit deeper, I came to understand that Canada's Centennial didn't happen by accident — it was the product of nearly ten years of planning. And it wasn't government that took the lead. Citizens did.

The story of Canada's Centennial year isn't well known or understood, but it contains one very important lesson. Major anniversaries really are what you make them. They can be a rallying point or a polite birthday. A bold act of public imagination or a quiet commemoration.

Ultimately, Canada's Centennial became the defining cultural and political event of its generation. It was a force that proved to be an inflection point in our development as a country.

In seven years, we will reach another milestone. Fifty years after Centennial, it's time take stock and once again cast ourselves forward.

Canada's Sesquicentennial may still seem far away, but the time to start planning is now!

On March 11-12, 2010, the Institute of the Public Administration of Canada and MASS LBP are convening the first major conference concerning Canada's Sesquicentennial at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

For two days, 300 delegates – representing all levels of government from across the country, business, the arts and sciences, First Nations and community organizations – will come together to begin imagining and planning for Canada’s Sesquicentennial.

This is a fill-your-brain, roll-up-your-sleeves and work-with-dozens-of-inspiring-people kind of event.


On the first day, twenty distinguished guest speakers take the stage to talk about what we can learn from the Centennial as well as major celebrations in other countries, and to look ahead to 2017 and beyond. An amazing, one-night only arts event featuring Jully Black, Radio Radio and Davide Virelles, called "6717" will rock the NAC’s Theatre Hall.

On the second day, we get to work and begin to develop the big ideas that will come to shape Canada's Sesquicentennial and lay the basis for the 150!Canada Declaration and Framework — a document that will guide subsequent planning efforts throughout the country.

The road to Canada's Next Great Year begins at the National Arts Centre this March.

This conference is the best way to:

·  Join the biggest national cultural project in a generation
·  Help your company, organization or government department get up to speed on the significance and implications of the Sesquicentennial
·  Become a local champion for Sesquicentennial planning
 
We are planning a great event and pouring everything we've got into it. But truthfully it's our delegates who will bring this concept to life and supply the vision, energy and ideas that will help define the country and celebration to come.

We need you at the NAC this March to make this work!

Register for the conference now!