MASS LBP and IPAC announce 150!Canada, a major conference on Canada's 2017 Sesquicentennial Year Celebrations
 
MASS LBP and  the Institute of Public Administration Canada (IPAC) are pleased to announce major conference to imagine and begin planning Canada's 2017 Sesquicentennial year celebrations.

Visit the 150!Canada Conference site
 
"1967 was a milestone for Canada. Fifty years later, millions of Canadians still remember the Centennial Year celebrations as an exceptional public occasion that helped define our modern identity as a nation. But all of this took foresight and planning. The Centennial year succeeded because millions of Canadians worked with thousands of dedicated public servants to make it a year to remember. We think the 2017 Sesquicentennial is an important occasion to mark our accomplishments, raise our sights and celebrate Canada" says Gabriel Sékaly, CEO of IPAC.
 
On March 4-5, 2009, 150!Canada Conference will bring together public servants from all orders of government – federal, provincial, territorial, municipal and their respective agencies, boards and commissions; members of Canada’s First Nations; representatives of the broader public sector including heath care, education and not for profit organizations and leaders of Canadian corporations.

The conference will hear from many distinguished Canadians and will examine the legacy of both the 1967 and 1992 events as well as recent national celebrations in countries around the world. The conference will also hear from thought leaders about the major trends shaping Canada and the world in 2017. The event will be capped with a day of workshops that will culminate in the 150! Canada Declaration and Framework — a document that establishes 2017 planning principles for governments across Canada.
 
A new website: www.ipac.ca/150 will be the home of the 150! Canada program and conference.
 
Why now?
Canada's sesquicentennial is still eight years away, but we think the time to start imagining and planning our national celebration is now. Staging major national events take time; we know that the first meetings concerning the 1967 celebrations were held in 1958. By this measure, we're already a year behind!
 
Why IPAC and MASS LBP?
IPAC as the premier organization espousing “excellence in public service” is well - positioned to take a lead role in thinking about the Canada of the future, especially given the importance of public service to the development of Canada as a country.
 
IPAC is the professional organization of Canada's public servants and academics, and with its link across the public sector it can play a natural role as catalyst. It has the ability to convene representatives from all levels of government,  business, schools of public policy and administration  and the non-profit sector, and make Canada's sesquicentennial a major focus for our partners and members.

MASS LBP is one of Canada's most innovative public purpose companies, working reinvent public consultation and design the next generation of public services.
 
We know Canadians share our enthusiasm for celebrating our country and through the 150! Canada initiative.  IPAC and MASS LBP are working to ensure that all Canadians can share and contribute their vision for celebrating this special, national occasion.