What’s a Sesquicentennial!

No, it’s not a 100-year-old backwoods monster or a centenarian from Saskatoon. Here’s a hint: ses- kwee - from the Latin meaning one and a half. Sesquicentennial, meaning a century and half. Prince Edward Island is planning a province-wide 150th anniversary celebrating our role in Canadian Confederation. Twenty-three colonial delegates arrived in Charlottetown, September 1, 1864, and the discussions that followed formed the foundation of what is now one of the greatest nations on earth. Reason to celebrate? We think so!

Already, planning has begun. But more than a celebration, 2014 events will remind us that PEI is where great ideas are born. And there is no shortage of great ideas on how best to celebrate and commemorate Prince Edward Island’s role as Canada’s Birthplace. One thing we can promise is a spectacular year-long, Island-wide series of events that will remind us of the historic Charlottetown Conference of 1864, celebrate the anniversary and get us primed for 2017 when Canada will be marking its national sesquicentennial.

Plan to visit Prince Edward Island in 2014 to join the celebrations. Key dates include a launch early in the year, major Canada Day festivities around July 1, a summer concert series plus special editions of your favourite festivals. To get a sense of the scene in 1864, visitors will be able to discuss colonial politics and debate the merits of a union with The Confederation Players, a troupe of “conference delegates” who have somehow escaped the past to join us in the 21st century. Other plans include provincial or regional showcases sharing the foods, culture and heritage of the regions of Canada; and celebration sites with nightly entertainment, food tastings and daily family-friendly fun. Finally at year end, join our send-off event complete with fireworks, entertainment, and a retrospective of the year’s celebrations. Keep an eye on www.pei2014.ca for more details or join our 2014 communities on Facebook and Twitter @PEI2014.