Experiences Canada has announced a ‘youth-led initiative’ to commemorate Canada’s sesquicentennial year.
“Canada 150+Me will create a unique multi-destination youth event and series of regional forums for young people between the ages of 14-19, to be held across Canada over a three-month period culminating in Ottawa the week before Canada Day,” Deborah Morrison, president and CEO of Experiences Canada said in a Tuesday, March 15 release.
“The Canada 150+Me project will involve thousands of young Canadians in a conversation about Canada’s future, encouraging young people to take a leadership role in celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday.”
The project plans to engage thousands of youth in the dialogue. “In as much as Canada’s Centennial was defined by one generation of Canadians, our goal is to ensure Canada’s 150th belongs to this next generation,” Morrison said. “We want them to honour the past, but also engage in the present and think about the future.”
Young people will be asked to talk about the greatest challenges or opportunities facing Canada for their generation, using whatever medium they choose, and then group them together with other like-minded people “for an unforgettable week of community action.”
Minister of Canadian Heritage Mélanie Joly said, “I invite young Canadians to participate in the Experiences Canada exchange project. It will allow them to discover new communities or explore this country’s regional history, heritage, arts and culture.”
Experiences Canada will release further details about the program and how youth can apply in May 2016.