Canadian Heritage Week is celebrated this year from February 17 to 23. The aim of the week is to showcase Canada’s diverse heritage, highlight our shared legacy and create a sense of belonging.
The National Trust, a charitable organization, initiated Heritage Day in 1979, on the third Monday in February. Over the years, this day has served as a catalyst for grouping activities over the course of a week, with the collaboration of provincial and non-profit organizations. Everyone can choose a theme to highlight local particularities.
This week is therefore an opportunity to highlight physical assets such as historic lighthouses, schools, places of worship, industrial complexes, cultural landscapes, public squares and pow-wow sites. It also incorporates the intangible heritage of languages, traditional rituals, music, dance, stories and more.
This day, transformed into a week of activities, is an invitation to discover stories in all their forms, to forge links with others and nurture our sense of belonging.
Canadian and Quebec Heritage in the spotlight
The aim is to promote links between the past and the future, and encourage visits to museums, historic sites and cultural centers. It’s also a way of encouraging dialogue with people who are “guardians of knowledge”, to discover the various facets of our history that make up the richness of our heritage. The Trust’s website suggests a list of interesting historic sites.
To celebrate Quebec’s heritage and discover the beauty of its rich historical and heritage sites, visit the Divin Québec website created by the Association du Tourisme religieux et spirituel du Québec (ATRSQ). Its aim is to promote Quebec’s religious heritage through an attractive and diversified tourism and cultural offering. The site lists many inspiring places to enjoy, “sacredly beautiful experiences!”
The Canada History website also promises to step up its activities during Canadian Heritage Days, in particular by encouraging young people to develop historical inquiry projects.