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November 28, 2016 - 11:44 AM
KAMLOOPS - With Canada’s 150 birthday coming up, and organizations preparing for a year of activities, municipal staff are working on a few ways for Kamloops to celebrate.
City administration has six projects to mark the occasion, ranging from a fancy fence to a street hockey party, according to a report coming to city council asking for approval of a $145,500 budget.
More than half of the requested funding will go, if approved, to a new fence around Stuart Wood school. The heritage site currently has a chain link fence. The plan is for railings similar to those at the Old Courthouse to be installed at a cost of about $75,000.
City Hall could get an aesthetic upgrade as well, with the installation of a $2,000 light display in the shape of a tree for the year. For fans of the city, commemorative products might be available. The city is considering branding items with the Canada 150 and city logos, and selling them.
A couple of events could get a funding boost as well, with Canada Day and New Years Eve fireworks potentially sharing $40,000 to make them “memorable,” according to the report.
A new event would also be founded; a street hockey block party crossed with a winter festival is being planned for $20,000. It would include a closed down Victoria Street for hockey games along with traditional winter festival activities like maple syrup tasting and ice sculptures. The city is looking to partner with the Kamloops Fracophone Association for the event.
Plants would be part of the birthday projects as well, with special strain of tulips to be planted around the city. The flower, dubbed the Canada 150 tulip, was chosen due to Canada’s efforts in the Netherlands during World War 2.
Two tree projects are also being looked at, both to be funded by grants. Kamloops has been selected to receive $25,000 from CN as part of the rail companies From the Ground Up Campaign to plant trees around the country. The city has also applied for a grant to create an urban forest with 150 maple trees.
A pop up museum at City Hall has already been approved by council and will feature items from the Kamloops Museum and Archives.
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