Kelowna - Ron Cannan, MP for Kelowna-Lake Country, on behalf of the Minister for Canadian Heritage Bev Oda, is pleased to announce that several local organizations have received funding under the Celebrate Canada program which helps local communities launch activities to celebrate Canada’s heritage.

Mr. Cannan said almost $12,000 in total was awarded to local organizations which included the Kelowna Canada Day Concert Society, the Cottonwoods Extended Care Unit, the Festivals and Special Events Development Society, the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society, and the Rotary Club of Lake Country.

“Many of our local community organizations work hard all year planning activities that will make Canada Day a festive event and I am pleased to know that they are being acknowledged for their efforts by the federal government,” he said.

The Celebrate Canada program supports local activities during the period from June 21 to July 1, including National Aboriginal Day on June 21, Saint Jean Baptiste Day on June 24, Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27, and culminating with Canada Day on July 1. The funds provided are to assist with start-up costs of projects and are not intended as 100% funding. Groups are encouraged to make their activities increasingly self-supporting from year to year.

“Canada Day gives us a chance to share our pride in our country. The Celebrate Canada program helps us to do that in our own unique way. I hope people will come out and show their support for these local organizations which are run largely by volunteers. They do a wonderful job planning events and making Canada Day memorable for our community,” Mr. Cannan said.