Thank you so much for having us today. It's such a pleasure to be here to talk to you about something we are so passionate about.
When it comes to the capital, it is so much more than a physical place. It's a place that belongs to all Canadians, whether you live here or not. The capital is both a window on the country and the face we put forward to the world. It is a place where we mark significant national commemorations and celebrations. We welcome, as you know, dignitaries from around the world. And it is in the capital region--this you may not realize sometimes--that the largest diplomatic community in Canada actually lives what I call their Canadian daily experience. They live and breathe our Canadian values, here in the capital region.
More than any other city in this country, the capital has the responsibility to showcase Canada's best and to be the one place that brings together all of Canada.
An important historical milestone like the 150th will need a hub. It will need an anchor, a place to anchor the celebrations that will take place in every community, and to connect with Canadians across the country to celebrate our past and to dream about our future.
Last fall, as part of the review of the Plan for Canada's Capital, the NCC set out to speak to Canadians about their capital. I must say that this was a privilege. We asked them, for instance: What kind of capital do you want for your country? What do you want your capital to say about you, about Canada? During conversations we held in cities across the country and online, we heard some very inspiring ideas. I think we could not have chosen a better moment. Indeed, the Plan for Canada's Capital has a 50-year horizon, but we have a 10-year action plan, and as it happens, 2017 is included in those 10 years.
Thousands of Canadians, including young Canadians, aboriginal representatives and new Canadians, told us they wanted the capital to represent them and what it means to be Canadian. We heard this everywhere, from coast to coast. Canadians feel that they should learn about their history and learn more about all provinces and territories of the country through their capital. Canadians also think that the capital should be more vibrant, sustainable and representative of our diversity and values, and that it should be a model for the country. They want to be able to see, hear, taste and touch all parts of the country in one place, their nation's capital. We've heard a great deal about the fact that the capital should allow Canadians to experience Canadian culture from every part of the country.
In a national survey conducted by the NCC and the Association of Canadian Studies, Canadians told us what the two most important roles for the capital are: the capital should represent Canada to the rest of the world, and it should represent Canada to Canadians.
I'd like to share an interesting fact with you: Canadians expressed a particular attachment to their capital. Indeed, 89% of Canadians rated their capital positively. That's more positively than the other international capitals surveyed: Washington received a rating of 76%; London, 82%; and Paris, 80%, when rated by their own citizens. However, the figure was 89% of the population in the case of Canada's capital.
I'd like to share a few lessons we've learned through the NCC's many years of animating the capital. I think these can apply differently to others and in different aspects.
We think we need to focus on a few high-impact activities. We should create a balance between the festive and the educational activities. We need to leverage the strong base that we have. In our case we have strong existing programs at the NCC; we have to leverage those. We can and we should create links with Canadians that foster pride and unity through broadcasts, online, and with new technologies. Just remember: we didn't have those 25 years ago, so we have to take full advantage of that. We must continue to develop strong partnerships with the public and the private sector. Finally, along with festivities, we have to seize the opportunity to create some lasting legacies.
The capital is the stage for national events and celebrations such as Canada Day and Remembrance Day. On July 1, artists from across the country perform in front of hundreds of thousands of people, including 40% that are from outside the region. Last year, more than 500 000 people were on Parliament Hill, and as Mr. Mills said, more than 15 million Canadians tuned in to the Canada Day noon and evening shows on television, on radio or on the Web. A 2011 survey indicated that Canadians felt an increased sense of pride when they took part in Canada Day festivities in the capital region, and visitors indicated that this was a great place to learn about the country.
The capital is also the place for national commemorations that are linked to important nation-building moments. Monuments currently under development include the monument to the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Firefighters Memorial and the National Holocaust Monument. A monument will also be dedicated to the war of 1812 as the country marks that bicentennial. We have several other commemoration projects that are at early stages of development.
The NCC has developed a very strong track record in bringing together partners such as national institutions—and we've had the pleasure of working with the Royal Canadian Mint—and museums in the capital region, as well as municipalities, regional tourism associations, and the private sector to celebrate Canada, our history, our identity, and our culture and values.
By joining efforts, we really feel that we leverage our limited resources and we ensure a higher impact for every dollar invested. For example, this year we're looking at Winterlude. We now have 50 programming partners who contribute to a greater offering of activities. We've actually decreased the budget and have been able, with partnering with the private sector and other organizations, to actually make a larger offer.
We focus on the federal messaging of the festivities. At Winterlude this year, we will mark the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 and the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Coast Guard. In 2010, Parks Canada launched its 100th anniversary celebrations at Winterlude. We've also worked closely with Veterans Affairs Canada and many other departments to mark significant anniversaries. In 2008, we had the opportunity to mark the 400th anniversary of Quebec City in Canada's capital. In 2009, the capital participated in the Olympic torch relay, which coincided with the annual illumination ceremony of the Christmas lights on Parliament Hill. You may know that we've just finished hosting the NHL all-star celebration, and we've worked very closely with the organizers to be able to present sporting events in Confederation Park and on the Rideau Canal Skateway, bringing global visibility to Canada's capital.
Leading up to the celebration of Confederation in 2017, the NCC will work closely with several federal partners, especially Canadian Heritage, to mark events such as the anniversary of the meeting of the Fathers of Confederation in 2014, the anniversaries of the first and second world wars, and the bicentennial of the birth of Sir John A. Macdonald. With our expertise in the production of public events, our excellent public gathering spaces, and our ability to build partnerships, we can deliver celebrations in the capital region that will highlight the history of our country and the important contributions of great Canadians.
As part of our research this fall, we asked Canadians whether the capital should play a key role in marking the 150th anniversary of Confederation, and the overwhelming response was “yes”.
For the moment, we are in the early planning stage. However, we have many successful programs and partnerships that we can work with to make 2017 a key moment for the country here in the capital, and ensure that pride is shared across the country.
This national celebration will be a defining moment for communities all across the country. More than any other region in the country, Canada's capital region has the responsibility to showcase Canada's best, and to serve as a window on the country and to the rest of the world. The capital should therefore be the place that connects Canadians all across the country.
In conclusion, we have provided a look at how we work to develop partnerships, at the unifying role that we play, and at the range of activities and events that attest to the success of our approach. We think that the capital, by its very nature, can and must play a central role in our country's celebrations. It must serve as a driving force, to communicate and tell the stories of our achievements, and to generate a sense of pride in Canadians.
We have engaged Canadians in a nationwide conversation about the future of their capital, and 2017 will provide an extraordinary opportunity for the capital to play the role that Canadians expect: to proudly represent Canadian values and diversity, and to unite Canadians from sea to sea to sea in this great celebration. Rest assured that we intend to work very hard for Canada's capital to fulfil this central role in the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of Confederation.
Thank you very much.