Quinte West to celebrate Canada’s 150th with tulip garden

By Tara Henley 

BELLEVILLE – Quinte West council approved a proposal to spend $7,000 of the Canada 150 Fund on a tulip garden for city hall in Monday night’s meeting.

The garden is to commemorate Canada’s 150th anniversary next year, and it is one of three projects that were approved. A “My Community My Canada” video project and a Canada 150 poster contest are other ways Quinte West will be celebrating.

Almost $5,500 of the fund money will be going toward purchasing bulbs whereas the remainder will be for installation.

Chief administrative officer Charlie Murphy presented the proposal to council. He said the garden, poster contest and video project were just the beginning.

“These are just the first of many things we’re going to be doing next year. There will be more to come.”

Councillor Duncan Armstrong was the first to volunteer to be in the group that will oversee future commemorative projects. He said the group has already started making plans involving the rededication of Centennial Park.

“It was built in 1967 for the 100th birthday. Now that it’s the 150th, let’s rededicate it,” Armstrong said. “We can even put a time capsule in and get a new flag arrangement.”

The funding for these projects would come from the Canada 150 Fund, which is money that the government set aside in honour of the country’s 150th anniversary. Up to 100 per cent of any eligible event costing less than $50,000 can be funded. The hope is to encourage Canadians to participate in events that will contribute to building a sense of patriotism.

Armstrong said he wants next year to be a big celebration and that he can’t wait.

“It’s a year-long event. If we can find the money for it and tie our heritage to it, I say we do it.”