Heritage Day - Alberta

Posted by on August 2nd, 2021

August Long Weekend

 

In 1974, the Government of Alberta, acting through Minister of Culture Horst A. Schmid, declared the first Monday in August an annual holiday to recognize and celebrate the varied cultural heritage of Albertans, known as "Heritage Day". This gave rise in 1976 to the Edmonton Heritage Festival, a three-day celebration of food, dance, and handicrafts of cultures from around the world. Heritage Day is not a statutory holiday but is often celebrated as such.

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May Long Weekend

Posted by on May 24th, 2021

Victoria Day 

Why is May 24th known as Victoria Day?

“The 24th of May is the Queen’s birthday If we don’t get a holiday, we’ll all run away!”

Canadians observe Victoria Day on May 24th or on the preceding Monday. For most of us, the arrival of this day means we can start planting our vegetable and flower gardens and put the long winter behind us. For the majority of Canadians, it also means a welcome long weekend. But how did Victoria Day come about, and why do we celebrate it?

Origins

This holiday is named after the British monarch who gave royal assent to Confederation. Queen Victoria, who reigned over Great Britain, was born on May 24, 1819. She enjoyed the longest reign in British history, ascending the throne in 1837 and ruling until…

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Celebration of Thanks

Posted by on October 11th, 2020

Happy Thanksgiving!

The first official, annual Thanksgiving in Canada was celebrated on 6 November 1879, though Indigenous peoples in Canada have a history of celebrating the fall harvest that predates the arrival of European settlers. 

The celebration featuring the uniquely North American turkey, squash and pumpkin was introduced to Nova Scotia in the 1750s and became common across Canada by the 1870s. In 1957, Thanksgiving was proclaimed an annual event to occur on the second Monday of October. It is an official statutory holiday in all provinces and territories except Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

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Buying a Recreational Property - Living at the Lake

Posted by on October 1st, 2020

 Buying a Recreational Property

Spending time at a cottage or recreational property can be a great idea. Not only do you have the conveniences of home, but you feel you are on a vacation whenever you need to get away.

However, there are a few things to consider when looking to purchase a recreational property.

• Can you financially afford a second property? Ensure that you have a solid plan in place, and know where the down payment will be coming from. 

• How will you make the monthly mortgage payments? Will the monthly payments leave you house poor, or will you be able to save enough for repairs, maintenance, and enjoying life? 

• Keep in mind that CMHC will not allow anyone to take advantage of their program when buying a second…

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Labour Day in Canada

Posted by on September 6th, 2020

Labour Day in Canada

Labour Day is a statutory national holiday celebrated throughout Canada on the first Monday in September. The September date has remained unchanged, even though the government has been encouraged to adopt May 1st as Labour Day, the date celebrated by the majority of the rest of the world. Moving the holiday, in addition to breaking with tradition, could have been viewed as aligning the Canadian labour movements with internationalist sympathies. Another major reason for keeping the current September date is that the United States celebrates its Labor Day on the same day. History of Canadian Labour Day The origins of Labour Day in Canada can be traced back to a printer's revolt in…

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Heritage Day - August Long Weekend in Alberta

Posted by on August 2nd, 2020

Heritage Day In Alberta - August Long Weekend

In 1974 the Alberta Government declared the first Monday of August an annual holiday to recognize and celebrate the varied cultural heritage of Albertans.

That year and again in 1975, a multicultural concert was held at Fort Edmonton Park to celebrate Heritage Day.

In 1976 11 ethno-cultural communities banded together in Edmonton’s Hawrelak Park to display their cultures’ traditional cuisine, entertainment, interpretive materials, and crafts.

This occasion marked the early days of the Edmonton Heritage Festival, which plays an important role in promoting Alberta’s heritage.

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