Statement by Minister Joly on Canada Day

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 1, 2016) -

Every year, on July 1, Canadians across the country and around the world are invited to celebrate Canada Day. This is a wonderful opportunity to join with family and friends to take part in our country's biggest celebration and to bring Celebrate Canada week festivities to a rousing conclusion.

This year, as we celebrate the 149^th anniversary of Confederation, we have every reason to be proud of belonging to the wider Canadian family. In the past months, we have welcomed into our communities thousands of new arrivals from Syria and other parts of the world. We have also helped families in Fort McMurray as they faced a time of trial. This is proof of the spirit of solidarity that motivates us. It shows, beyond any doubt, that Canada is first and foremost about helping one another-a country we can all be proud of.

I invite Canadians of all ages and backgrounds to show their pride by taking part in Celebrate Canada activities in their communities or in Canada's Capital Region. A host of events are taking place on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, including two star-studded shows at noon and in the evening.

As we get closer to the 150^th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, let's take the opportunity on Canada Day to celebrate our achievements and everything that makes Canada a country such a wonderful country to live in. A few weeks from now, when our athletes join the Parade of Nations in the Olympic Stadium in Rio, we will have another opportunity to express our attachment to this country that we all hold so dear.

Happy Canada Day!

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