Each year, the Canadian government highlights several “anniversaries of significance” as part of its Commemorate Canada program.
The program, which favours commemorations marking 25th, 50th, 75th and 100th anniversaries (or subsequent anniversaries in increments of 25 years), provides funding to initiatives “specifically designed to commemorate and celebrate historical figures, places, events and accomplishments of national significance,” according to the federal government’s website.
This year’s anniversaries include:
- the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Canada-Soviet hockey series (also known as the Summit Series);
- the 70th anniversary (also known as a platinum jubilee) of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne;
- the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Canadian Citizenship Act;
- the 150th anniversary of the birth of John McCrae, who penned “In Flanders Fields”;
- the 150th anniversary of the “Nine Hour Movement” and the adoption of the Trade Unions Act;
- the 175th anniversary of Irish mass immigration to Canada during Ireland’s “Great Famine”;
- the 40th anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms;
- the 50th anniversary of the Ugandan Asian resettlement; and
- the 50th anniversary of Canada’s “Decorations for Bravery.”
Canada Post has already announced it will honour the Summit Series with a stamp issue in 2022.