Saskatchewan projects announced for Canada 150 celebrations

The federal government is helping Saskatchewan celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary to the tune of $2.7 million.

RalphGoodale, a federal cabinet minister and member of Parliament for ReginaWascana, announced the funding Friday, which will go toward supporting 19 events for the Confederation celebration next year.The groups or organizations that are holding the events are also providing funding.

The events include multicultural, historical, Indigenous and arts projects in a variety of communities.

• EXTERNAL LINK:Announcement with complete list of 19 Sask. events

"We need to celebrate Canada and what it means to be Canadian every chance we get,"Goodalesaid.

He added that further projects will be announced as 2017 approaches.

The government has budgeted $200 millionoverallfor150thanniversary projects. There are four major themes:

• Diversity and inclusion.
• Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
• The environment.
• Young people.

"Canada is a triumph of the human spirit, built and held together not so much by the force of law or the force of arms or the force ofanything else, but by our common human will," Goodale said. "Canada is now and it ever will be a precious, delicate work in progress."