With a proclamation by Queen Victoria on May聽24, 1867, the confederation of sa国际传媒 was born. sa国际传媒鈥檚 150th anniversary is a time to celebrate, but it鈥檚 also a time to reflect on where we鈥檝e come from and where we need to聽go to thrive for the next 150聽years.
Celebrations of sa国际传媒鈥檚 150th started early here at the foundation, with last summer鈥檚 creation of Victoria鈥檚 sa国际传媒 150 Mosaic mural, now proudly displayed for all to see outside the Greater Victoria Public Library鈥檚 Central Branch. Created by the residents of our region, this public art stands as a symbol of our community and our connection to the nation as a whole.
Through Community Foundations of sa国际传媒, the Victoria Foundation offered sa国际传媒 150 grants in 2016, the results of which will be seen throughout 2017. Thirty-five worthy projects encouraging participation in community activities and inspiring a deeper understanding of the people and places of our nation will take place throughout the Capital Regional District as a result.
A major focus for the foundation鈥檚 sa国际传媒 150 initiatives will be reconciliation. In May, we will take Carey Newman鈥檚 residential-school commemoration, the Witness Blanket, to Ottawa as part of the Community Foundations of sa国际传媒 international conference. We have also established a Reconciliation Task Group to examine the relationship between philanthropy and reconciliation, and determine the most effective way of integrating those principles into our own work.
To reach our community鈥檚 youth, in the spring we are thrilled to be bringing writer and broadcaster Jowi Taylor鈥檚 Six String Nation to Greater Victoria middle schools. Built from 64聽pieces of bone, metal, wood, stone and fabric collected across the country, the stunning guitar is a symbol of national unity, exploring Canadian identity and connecting people from all regions of sa国际传媒.
And finally, back by popular demand, Victoria Foundation Day, which last year saw dozens of local attractions offer free admission in honour of the foundation鈥檚 80th anniversary, will return in 2017. The specifics are still under wraps, I鈥檓 sorry to say, but make sure to keeping checking in throughout the year for more information on this community celebration.
Our nation鈥檚 150th is going to be a busy year, but it also promises to be a rewarding one, filled with the spirit of celebration and hope for the future.
Sandra Richardson is CEO of the Victoria Foundation.
