Hundreds of Thousands of Holiday Lights Set to Sparkle From Coast to Coast to Coast

GATINEAU, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Nov. 24, 2014) - Department of Canadian Heritage

The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today launched the 30^th edition of the Christmas Lights Across Canada program.

Festive lighting ceremonies are scheduled to take place in provincial and territorial capitals across Canada, as well as on Parliament Hill, and hundreds of thousands of lights will sparkle across the country.

Quick Facts

Here's what Canadians can look forward to in their region:

• In Canada's Capital Region, thousands will gather on Parliament Hill at 7 p.m. on December 3 for an evening of free festivities. Minister Glover will be joined by special guests and dignitaries to officially switch on the lights around 7:30 p.m. Residents and visitors are invited to join the celebration and enjoy free BeaverTails® pastries and hot chocolate. Approximately 320,000 lights will illuminate Parliament Hill and many prominent landmarks along Confederation Boulevard in the heart of the Capital Region. The light displays will brighten the Capital every evening from 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. until January 7, 2015.
• In Iqaluit, Nunavut, a celebration will take place on December 4 at the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. The illumination of 4,000 lights is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Festivities include face painting and music.
• In Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, celebrations will take place at 5 p.m. on December 4. The Honourable Jackie Jacobson, Speaker, will be present in the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories to witness the illumination of 12,000 lights at 5:20 p.m. The Fireweed Children's Chorus and the École St. Patrick Jazz Band will perform.
• In Whitehorse, Yukon, 10,000 lights will adorn the Government of Yukon's Main Administration Building, where a Celebration of Music will take place from November 28 to December 5. Whitehorse Community Choir, The Big Band and Pitch Slapped will perform along with school choirs and bands.
• In Victoria, British Columbia, festivities will be held on the front steps of the Provincial Parliament Buildings at 7 p.m. on November 26. The Honourable Linda Reid, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, with special guests, the Honourable Christy Clark, Premier, and Carole James, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Victoria-Beacon Hill, will be on hand when 3,000 lights are turned on at approximately 7:30 p.m. South Park Elementary School, Mount Douglas Secondary School, Reynolds Secondary School and SingYourJoy Young Adult Chorus will perform.
• In Edmonton, Alberta, a lighting ceremony will take place on December 4 at the Alberta Legislature Building. More than 125,000 lights will be illuminated at 4:45 p.m. in the presence of the Honourable Jim Prentice, Premier of Alberta, and the Honourable Gene Zwozdesky, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The University of Alberta Mixed Chorus will perform.
• In Regina, Saskatchewan, an indoor celebration will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on December 4. The event starts with the official illumination ceremony in the rotunda of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in the presence of the Honourable Dan D'Autremont, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Free entertainment and activities are planned for the whole family to enjoy. Prairie Gold Chorus and a school choir will fill the building with the sound of holiday music. Activities include face painting, crafts and magic, and Santa has promised to stop by for a visit. There will be hot chocolate and cookies for everyone!
• In Winnipeg, Manitoba, more than 3,200 lights will be turned on during a special ceremony at the Legislative Building at 5 p.m. on December 6. Visitors can enjoy the lights throughout the holiday season.
• In Toronto, Ontario, a lighting ceremony will take place at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario at 6:15 p.m. on December 1. The Honourable Dave Levac, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, will take part in a festive gathering where more than 5,000 interior and more than 3,000 exterior lights will be turned on at 6:45 p.m. The nationally celebrated University of Toronto's Hart House Jazz Choir Onoscatopoeia will perform.
• In Québec City, Quebec, Cartier Avenue, the winter home of Lumière sur l'art-whose official illumination will take place on December 11 at 5:30 p.m.-will feature 35 giant hanging lampshades displaying the work of renowned Québécois artists Alfred Pellan and Fernand Leduc. During the holiday season and up to the Carnaval de Québec, in the heart of Parliament Hill, illuminated trees will enliven the Parc de l'Amérique-Française and the gardens of Parliament. Another 20 heritage buildings will also light up the landscape of the capital at night, including the Château Frontenac, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church and the Price Building. These productions are part of the lighting plan developed by the Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec.
• In Fredericton, New Brunswick, festivities will take place on the front lawn of the Legislative Assembly Building at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 28. The Honourable Chris Collins, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Honourable Brian Gallant, Premier, and Brian Macdonald, representing the Leader of the Official Opposition, will be present as 7,500 lights are turned on. Entertainment will be provided by performers from the Smythe Street Cathedral and the Liverpool Street School.
• In Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration was held in the plaza of the Confederation Centre of the Arts on Friday, November 21. In the presence of His Worship Mayor Clifford Lee, as well as other federal, provincial and municipal elected officials, tens of thousands of lights located on the main tree and surrounding displays at Province House National Historic Site were illuminated to commence the holiday season. On the same evening, Province House National Historic Site, home of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, was illuminated with more than 7,000 lights to celebrate the holiday season. Holiday lights and displays will brighten the night sky of Charlottetown until after New Year's Eve celebrations.
• In Halifax, Nova Scotia, a celebration was held on Saturday, November 22 at the City Hall Building in the Grand Parade, where 7,500 lights were turned on at approximately 6 p.m. Entertainment included
  The Octonauts live stage show, musical act Big Fish, a visit from Santa and fireworks.
• In St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, a ceremony will take place at 6:15 p.m. on December 4 at the East Block of the Confederation Building. Approximately 60,000 lights will be illuminated at 6:45 p.m. The festivities will include performances by the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Band and the Beachy Cove Elementary School Choir.

Quote

"I invite all Canadians to take part in Christmas Lights Across Canada, a wonderful holiday tradition, and enjoy the celebration in Ottawa or in one of the participating cities across the country. This holiday season, let us all take the time to appreciate our family and friends, and be thankful for the privilege of living in this great country."

-The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

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