Recreation director Paul Corbin said members of town council wanted to provide families with an opportunity to get outside while enjoying some of the facilities the town has to offer.
Recreation director Paul Corbin said members of town council wanted to provide families with an opportunity to get outside while enjoying some of the facilities the town has to offer.
“Because it’s a statutory holiday, there’s a strong chance people will be around to do things together during the day,” he said.
Corbin noted that this is the first time the town has organized activities for Heritage Day, first celebrated in the province in 2015.
Activities will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday. The coasting party will take place at the Albion Baseball Field.
Corbin said Leo Fahey Way will be closed to traffic so people can take full advantage of the sledding hill. Speakers will be set up to play music and add ambiance, and people attending can warm up with a cup of hot chocolate.
Snowshoes on loan from Trenton Park and Active Pictou County will be available for use, and Corbin said he will create a track with a start and finish line in case people want to organize their own snowshoe races.
If the conditions aren’t good for sledding and snowshoeing, skating will be offered at the Stellarton Memorial Rink instead. However, Corbin said the forecast looks promising for outdoor activities.
A regularly scheduled open skate at 3:30 p.m. will take place at the rink as usual.
About Nova Scotia Heritage Day
On Dec. 5, 2013, the province introduced legislation to make the third Monday in February a brand new statutory holiday, beginning in 2015.
Students were asked to suggest names for the holiday, along with suggestions for remarkable people, places and events that have helped make Nova Scotia what it is today.
From these ideas, each year a different theme is celebrated. The first Heritage Day holiday honoured Viola Desmond, a civil rights activist, while the second recognized Joseph Howe, a defender of the freedom of the press, former premier, federal cabinet minister and lieutenant governor.
As part of the celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, Heritage Day 2017 will recognize the Mi’kmaq culture and the many accomplishments of the Mi’kmaq people.
Future honourees
Significant cultural and historical contributions that will be honoured during future Heritage Day celebrations include:
2018 – Mona Louise Parsons
2019 – Maud Lewis
2020 – Africville
2021 – Edward Francis Arab
2022 – Grand Pré National Historic Site
