At Monday's (May 15) City Council meeting, Airdrie's Community Leaders for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Canada 150 Network Melanie Taylor and Keith Wilkinson presented five initiatives they are undertaking to celebrate Canada's milestone, and made a request for funding.

Taylor explained to us that her, Wilkinson and Mayor Peter Brown have put serious though into what Airdrie's celebration will look like.

"We have met over the last eight weeks and put together a plan for different initiatives throughout our community as ways of celebrating the Canada 150."

They have come up with five initiatives: Encouraging homes and businesses to decorate with a red and white theme for Canada Day, collecting and sharing 150 stories of Airdrie's legacy, buying and hanging Canada 150 banners along major roadways, planting 150 trees along with a commemorative plaque, and unveiling a community art project sometime before April 2019 to show how Airdrie celebrated Canada's sesquicentennial.

The first two initiatives have no cost to the city, but Taylor and Wilkinson did make an ask for the other three.

"We requested $129,935 and that was approved," said Taylor. "We are also working with local non-profits to fund these projects through grants. There are grants available through Alberta Culture and Tourism for Canada 150."

The funds are needed to purchase the Canada 150 banners, fund the art project and buy the commemorative plaque. The group is partnering with Airdrie's Parks department to plant trees that were already budgeted for this year.

Taylor sees the initiatives as a good investment in the community.

"Especially in the times that we're facing around the world today and in our own local economy, I think it's really important that we do take the time to celebrate together what it feels like to be a resident of Airdrie and a Canadian citizen."

City council did grant the requested funds unanimously.

 

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