Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast are being invited to come to Prince Edward Island in 2014 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the meeting of the Fathers of Confederation, a meeting which paved the way for the formation of Canada.
In his annual year-end interview with The Guardian, Premier Robert Ghiz predicted 2014 may very well be the biggest celebration in P.E.I.'s history.
"2014 will kick-off the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Canada in 2017," Ghiz said in the hour-long interview that will be published in The Guardian on Dec. 27.
"But Canadians and Islanders all have to realize that we would not have that celebration in 2017 if it was not for a meeting here in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island in 1864. That meeting really laid the foundation for the formation of the greatest country in the world."
On Sept. 1, 1864 the Maritimes provinces met, in what was supposed to be meetings on Maritime Union.
Members of Canada East and Canada West requested permission to attend the meeting of the colonies, in order to raise the larger subject of British North American union.
Ghiz said the year long celebrations will honour the past while looking forward to the future.
"I really want to invite Canada to Prince Edward Island," Ghiz said, in a video segment now posted on The Guardian's website at www.theguardian.pe.ca
The province is working to get the official Canada Day celebrations moved from the nation's capital in Ottawa to Charlottetown. They are also hoping for another visit by Prince William and his wife, Kate.
The province is also hoping for a series of legacy projects. The most notable is a provincial museum.
The province is still in talks with the federal government for funding.
A 2009 report said the museum could cost as much as $41 million.
Ghiz said there is still no word whether the federal government is prepared to partner to help build the provincial museum.
"There are other legacy projects out there too, people talking about revamping the Confederation Centre, perhaps looking at the seven museums we have across our province and revamping them."
"...Canadians and Islanders all have to realize that we would not have that celebration in 2017 if it was not for a meeting here in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island in 1864." - Premier Robert Ghiz in his year-end interview with The Guardian
wthibodeau@theguardian.pe.ca
A Conversation with ...
Premier Robert Ghiz sits down one-on-one with The Guardian's Wayne Thibodeau for his annual year-end interview.
-A Conversation with Premier Robert Ghiz will be published in The Guardian Dec. 27.
-An exclusive preview of the interview is now posted at our website, www.theguardian.pe.ca.
- It will air on EastLink TV Wednesday, Dec. 28, at 8:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Dec. 29, at 8:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., and 7 p.m. - Friday, Dec. 30, at 8:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. - Saturday, Dec. 31, at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, at 8:30 p.m.
-Monday, Jan. 2, at 8:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. - Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 8:30 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.
Tourists wont be able to come to our celebration, they wont be able to afford the bridge tolls.