November 15, 2009

THIS SITE IS NO LONGERS ACTIVE

The Celebrate Canada Committee for BC has been in existence for almost 29 years in British Columbia. The Committee members over the years have consisted of representatives from the various regions in the province as well as representatives from the Francophone, Aboriginal and Youth constituencies and were appointed by the Department of Canadian Heritage (previously the Department of Secretary of State).
As you are aware, the Committee has worked diligently on many programs to promote Canada including National Aboriginal Day, Saint-Jean Baptiste Day, Canadian Multiculturalism Day, Canada Day, Watch It Grow Canada, Canada Youth Awards, National Flag Day and the Canada Day Poster Challenge and National Flag Day. Our Grants Review Committee has worked tirelessly to ensure equity and broad representation throughout the province. We have strived to reach out to as many groups, local governments and individuals to help the Canadian government achieve the objectives of these programs. We in British Columbia can boast in having the largest number of events of any province in Canada. All committee members, past and present, have been volunteers and many have devoted many years to this Committee.

The current Committee Members are:
Acting President: Bob Tate- Zone 11- South Fraser River
Acting Vice-President: Jacques Lemay- Zone 8- Vancouver Island
Treasurer- Doug Hiller, CA
Zone 1- Coastal North West- Joanne Monaghan
Zone 2- North East- Andy Ackerman
Zone 3- North Central- Shirley Gratton
Zone 4- East and West Kootenay- Mary Louise Greene
Zone 5- Okanagan- Andy Sandu
Zone 6- Thompson/Cariboo- Iris Rich
Zone 7- Fraser Valley- Mel Kositsky
Zone 9- Burnaby/Mission- Kathryn Nokony
Zone 10- Vancouver Richmond- Kelly Ip
Zone 12- Capilano/Howe Sound- John Clark
Francophone Community- Nicole Legault
Aboriginal Community- Nora Greenway
Youth Director- Brian Cheng

The federal government has now decided to change the rules around how this Committee and our provincial and territorial counterparts operate including that it is no longer being affiliated with the Department’s Celebrate Canada programs, has no access to staff or facilities and has no access to the groups in our respective regions. This includes funding applications and the operation of the Poster Challenge program. These programs will apparently continue to be operated by the Department of Heritage. Our Committee has been rendered obsolete. Furthermore, the Watch It Grow program is no longer going to be sponsored by the Celebrate Canada program. So it is with disappointment and sadness that we must inform you that we will no longer be representing the Celebrate Canada program in this Region. It is our understanding that these programs are still being funded.

For any information regarding the programs, please contact:

Nicole Laplante
Program Officer
Celebrate Canada Program
Department of Canadian Heritage
300 West Georgia Street
Vancouver BC V6B 6C6
Telephone: 1-604-666-7591
Nicole.laplante@pch.gc.ca

On behalf of all directors from across the province we wish to thank you for your interest in “Celebrating Canada”. We want to thank the organizers and the volunteers for celebrating Canada Day and other related activities. We encourage you to continue your community celebrations and wish you well with future events.

The Celebrate Canada Committee for British Columbia