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Kenney proclaims Sept. 1 'Alberta Day'

For years, Albertans have celebrated the province's history on Heritage Day, the first Monday in August. Now, Premier Jason Kenney said there will be one more day of celebration: on the newly proclaimed Alberta Day.
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Premier Jason Kenney, pictured here at July 7 announcement on agri-food investment and growth strategy, told patrons at his Stampede breakfast Monday that Sept. 1 will now be known as Alberta Day.

Premier Jason Kenney has decided one day a year be set aside to recognize Alberta's "rich cultural heritage" and "its unique place in confederation." 

That day will be Sept. 1, according to an announcement made during the premier's Calgary Stampede breakfast Monday. 

"I'm happy to announce that beginning this Sept. 1, we are instituting a new annual tradition to celebrate this province in a big and beautiful way by declaring Sept. 1 — the day we joined confederation — forever into the future as Alberta Day," said Kenney. 

"We rightfully celebrate Canada Day, it's time that we celebrate this place we call home." 

The premier continued to say that the province is worth celebrating and shouldn't be mired by criticism, though he didn't specify which criticism. 

"We need to learn from the mistakes of our past but also celebrate its achievements," he said. "We need to be proud about this province, we need to be grateful for those who went before us. 

"That's what Stampede is all about — the First Nations, the first to build communities here. The pioneers, the ranchers, for those who have grown our food and created communities in this sometimes tough environment."

A day to celebrate the heritage of each province and territory already exists, with nearly every location coast-to-coast observing the first Monday in August as a civic holiday. 

Now known as Heritage Day in Alberta, the first Monday in August became an annual holiday on June 6, 1974. 

The day was originally named 'Alberta Heritage Day' and was "appointed for the people of Alberta to recognize and celebrate the cultural heritage of Alberta, to pay grateful tribute to the memory of the early inhabitants and later settlers who have contributed to the history of the province." 

The Province will host celebrations for the day in both Edmonton or Calgary and will support municipalities in hosting their own events, possibly in conjunction with events for the Queen's Platinum jubilee, according to a press release. 

Albertans are encouraged to visit a provincial historic site or museum, go to a provincial park or attend Alberta Culture Days and Alberta Month of the Artist events as a way to mark the occasion. 

More details are expected on those events in the coming months. 

The government is also planning to launch a campaign highlighting Alberta's history and its people in the lead up to Sept. 1.

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