Canada 150 celebrations in Banff to kick off with a big bang.
Canada marks the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017 and Banff will start the year’s celebrations with a New Year’s Eve family fun night downtown, culminating in a fireworks display.
“The City of Ottawa is advertising itself as the place to be in 2017, but we know better,” said Diana Waltmann, the Town of Banff’s communications and marketing manager.
“While we have a robust program for 2017, we do feel we need a launch, something to set the tone for the year.”
The 100 and 200 blocks of Banff Avenue, where there will be activity stations, warming stations, snow sculptures and street entertainment, will be closed to traffic earlier than usual on Dec. 31 this year.
There would also be programs at the skating rink at Banff Community High School.
“The RCMP are fully on board with this concept as it assists with enhancing public safety,” said Waltmann, noting the New Year’s Eve public gathering would be contained within the downtown core.
“The atmosphere would be similar to our Canada Day festivities: a family-friendly, relaxed and fun opportunity to show our national pride.”
For the remainder of 2017, there are no additional major events, but a series of programs and ideas, including the previously-announced Banff Commonwealth Walkway, where bronze plaques will be placed along existing trails in honour of Queen Elizabeth.
As part of Canada 150, the Town of Banff will also provide a neighbourhood block party kit for residents, which are popular in other Alberta communities, including Canmore, High River and Edmonton.
Banff Community Services department already has a trailer and the kit would include such items as a barbecue, folding tables and chairs, accessories, games and decorations, plus zero waste recycling bins.
“It is intended to be used by residents for neighbourhood events, such as potlucks, barbecues or pancake breakfast,” Waltmann said.
Banff’s Community Art Committee has also issued a call, which is open to all artists who live in Canada, for a new art installation in Central Park to commemorate Canada 150.
The committee has applied to the Canada 150 Fund to cover all of the costs of the public art piece, but the public art reserve has sufficient funds to cover it should the application be unsuccessful.
“It is anticipated the piece will be welcoming, accessible and interactive, as well as interpretive, and tell the story of Banff and the building of a nation,” Waltmann said.
Pageantry will also be a big focus for Banff next year, with Canada 150 street pole banners, the Canada 150 logo embedded in the ice skating rink at the high school, and the grounds department planting the Canada 150 tulip, created specifically to mark the anniversary.
Banff met with Parks Canada, Banff Lake Louise Tourism and the hamlet of Lake Louise, as well as other community groups in March, to help plan for next year’s celebrations. All have confirmed participation in various aspects of next year’s celebrations.
