Music, community projects to benefit from Canada’s 150th birthday fund

OTTAWA – Money for classical music and various community projects will flow from the government’s latest contributions to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday next year.

During an eventin Toronto, the Liberal government announced $7.5 million for the city’s symphony orchestra to create a music program highlighting Canadian talent.

It also earmarked $10 million for the organization Community Foundations of Canada, an umbrella group for 191 organizations that support projects in towns and cities across the country.

The main themes for the 150th anniversary of Confederation are diversity and inclusion, reconciliation with Aboriginal Peoples, the environment and youth.

The federal Canada 150 Fund, established in April last year, has an overall budget of $210 million.

The government plans to sprinkle the cash in a series of announcements — including one with a regional flavour in Halifax on Tuesday — leading up to the sesquicentennial.

In addition, federal departments and agencies will prepare activities to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation under their own programs, including the issue of commemorative coins or postage stamps.

Next year, the government plans to commemorate several other events such as the centennial of the battles of Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele, the 125th anniversary of the Stanley Cup, the centennial of the National Hockey League, the 75th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid and the 50th anniversary of the Canada Games.