Program directory · Canadian Heritage
National Celebrations, Commemorations and Symbols
- Department
- Canadian Heritage
- Program code
- BSE01 (CH)
- Core responsibility
- Heritage and Celebration
- In Departmental Plans
- 2018-19 – 2026-27 · New since an earlier plan
What it does
This program offers opportunities for Canadians to participate in celebrations and commemorations of national significance. Celebrate Canada funding allows Canadians across Canada to come together at community events celebrating National Aboriginal Day on June 21, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day on June 24, Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27 and Canada Day on July 1. Funding is also provided to communities and organizations across the country to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. Notable people, places, symbols, anniversaries and accomplishments of national significance are recognized across Canada through Commemorate Canada funding as well as in Canada’s Capital Region through monuments, interpretation, and visitor experience programming. Major events in Canada’s Capital Region, such as Canada Day, showcase all aspects of Canada’s diversity, feature Canadian talent and Canadian symbols, and reach Canadians from coast to coast to coast thanks to innovative broadcast and new media initiatives. Canadian symbols are promoted and protected, and protocol, traditions and cultural heritage are woven throughout State events and activities.
Source: the department's Program Inventory, via GC InfoBase.
History and lineage
First appears in GC InfoBase's actual spending by program in 2018-19. The data does not record when a program was created; it may be older than its first appearance here, which is limited by the sources (program spending starts in 2010-11, Departmental Plans in 2018-19).
| Program | Relation | Years with data | Actual spending over those years |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Celebrations, Commemorations and Symbols | This program | 2018-19 – 2028-29 | $384M |
No earlier or later program in the same department has a similar name.
Significant changes in scope and budget
Detected from the data: renames between plans, programs it appears to replace, merge with or split into (matched by name), year-over-year changes in spending of at least 25% and $5M, or in employees of at least 20% and 25 FTEs, linked budget measures, and results indicators added or dropped.
| Year | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Spending $107M, against $38.5M in 2021-22 (+177%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2023-24 | Spending $55.4M, against $107M in 2022-23 (−48%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2024 | Budget 2024 measure “Supporting Community Events and Celebrations”: $3M in total over its years (linked to this program by name, a best-effort match). | Budget 2024, PDF page 275 |
| 2025 | Budget 2025 measure “Connecting Canadians Through Cultural Experiences and Community Celebrations”: $102M in total over its years (linked to this program by name, a best-effort match). | Budget 2025, PDF page 187 |
| 2026-27 | Indicators added: Number of people reached through national broadcasts of events.; Number of people taking part in events by attending or volunteering.; Number of people taking part in learning or educational activities.; Percentage of people reporting a stronger sense of belonging to Canada after taking part in a celebration or commemoration of national significance. | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2026-27 | Indicators dropped: Number of participants in events and activities by attending or volunteering.; Number of participants in events and activities by viewing traditional and new media broadcasts or downloading related information materials. | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
Success criteria
The program's indicators from its department's Departmental Results Framework: the target set in each year's plan, and the result reported the following year. Source: GC InfoBase.
Historical: targets against results
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 8,500,000 | 2019 | 10,618,349 | Met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 8,500,000 | 2020 | 9,763,947 | Met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 9,500,000 | 2021 | 5,392 In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of in-person events delivered or funded by the Major Events, Commemorations and Capital Experience Branch were either cancelled or delivered virtually. The number of Canadians who participated in these events in person is thus very limited. | Not met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 8,500,000 | 2022 | 345,304 This number does not capture unique virtual visits or views by Canadians, and as such, will be refined in the coming year. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of in-person events delivered or funded by the Major Events, Commemorations and Capital Experience Branch were either cancelled or delivered virtually. The number of Canadians who participated in these events in person is… | Not met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 9,500,000 | 2023 | 7,208,206 This year was the first time since the beginning of the pandemic that most activities took place without major COVID-19 restrictions in place and the number of in-person participants has significantly increased compared to the two previous years. This number is expected to continue to increase to pre-pandemic levels in upcoming years. | Not met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 9,500,000 | 2024 | 6,721,625 Inflation and the particularly sharp rise in costs in the events sector led to a reduction in the scale of several activities funded or delivered by the Department, resulting in fewer people taking part. This rise in costs, combined with tightening budgets, had a significant impact on the activities offered by Canadian Heritage, and the programming of several events had to be scaled back. The Dep… | Not met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 7,500,000 | 2025 | 7,255,801 Generally, in-person attendance can fluctuate from year to year due to numerous external factors, including weather conditions for outdoor events. Additionally, due to budget constraints, the Sound and Light show was not presented in the summer 2024, and Winterlude 2025 had reduced hours and days of operation. These factors can explain why the target set for 2024–25 was not met. | Not met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 1,500,000 | 2019 | 14,140,000 | Met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 1,500,000 | 2020 | 19,071,892 In 2018–19, the number of Canadians engaged in celebrations and commemorations of national significance greatly exceeded the target for viewership of traditional and new media broadcasts or downloading information materials. Given the increasing number of broadcasting initiatives supported by Canadian Heritage, and that this is the first year the Department is reporting on this result, this targe… | Met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 12,000,000 | 2021 | 37,314,650 Due to the pandemic, the majority of in-person events delivered or funded by the Major Events, Commemorations and Capital Experience Branch were either cancelled or delivered virtually. Thus, the number of Canadians who participated in person is very limited, while virtual participants almost doubled. | Met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 12,000,000 | 2022 | 40,291,024 A large number of events delivered or funded by the Major Events, Commemorations and Capital Experience Branch were delivered virtually. This number does not capture unique virtual visits or views by Canadians, and as such, will be refined in the coming year. | Met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 14,000,000 | 2023 | 44,294,214 Although most activities delivered or funded by the Major Events, Commemorations and Capital Experience Branch took place in person for the first time this year since the beginning of the pandemic, virtual elements remain in high demand and well attended. This number also includes participants for funding components limited to 2022-23 such as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Fund… | Met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 14,000,000 | 2024 | 16,302,773 The notable decrease in results is mainly due to the sunsetting of temporary fundings that ended in 2022–23 such as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Fund and the Reopening Fund. In addition, inflation and the particularly sharp rise in costs in the events sector led to a reduction in the scale of several events and activities. | Met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 30,000,000 | 2025 | 13,715,299 The variance between the target and the actual result is mainly due to a reduction in the number and scale of virtual activities funded or delivered by the Department as a result of the end of temporary top-up funding for the Celebration and Commemoration Program, inflation, the particularly sharp rise in costs in the events sector, tightening budgets, and a renewed interest for in-person events… | Not met |
Current: the 2026-27 plan's targets
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 5,000,000 | 2027 | — | Planned |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 7,000,000 | 2027 | — | Planned |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 2,500,000 | 2027 | — | Planned |
Future goals: targets due after 2026-27
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 40% | 2029 | — | Planned |
Spending and employees: planned against actual
Spending
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | $37.7M | $47.1M |
| 2019-20 | $36.1M | $47.9M |
| 2020-21 | $45.5M | $46.4M |
| 2021-22 | $38.6M | $38.5M |
| 2022-23 | $100M | $107M |
| 2023-24 | $50.3M | $55.4M |
| 2024-25 | $43.7M | $42.2M |
| 2025-26 | $52.3M | — |
| 2026-27 | $48.7M | — |
| 2027-28 | $39.1M* | — |
| 2028-29 | $39.1M* | — |
Employees (FTEs)
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 180 | 157 |
| 2019-20 | 148 | 131 |
| 2020-21 | 131 | 109 |
| 2021-22 | 108 | 117 |
| 2022-23 | 121 | 130 |
| 2023-24 | 128 | 130 |
| 2024-25 | 128 | 125 |
| 2025-26 | 127 | — |
| 2026-27 | 123 | — |
| 2027-28 | 115* | — |
| 2028-29 | 115* | — |
Planned spending, plan by plan
Each row is one year's Departmental Plan and its forecast for the next three fiscal years; read a column down to see how the forecast for one year changed. The last row is what was actually spent. Click an amount for its source. Biggest changes in federal spending plans
| Plan | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 plan | $37,708,053 | $36,733,154 | $36,733,154 | ||||||||
| 2019-20 plan | $36,078,938 | $36,013,449 | $36,013,449 | ||||||||
| 2020-21 plan | $45,482,878 | $35,175,394 | $35,174,046 | ||||||||
| 2021-22 plan | $38,556,414 | $38,162,679 | $38,970,806 | ||||||||
| 2022-23 plan | $100,199,207 | $49,644,803 | $40,164,174 | ||||||||
| 2023-24 plan | $50,280,386 | $40,276,776 | $40,295,502 | ||||||||
| 2024-25 plan | $43,697,040 | $40,701,505 | $40,672,461 | ||||||||
| 2025-26 plan | $52,294,421 | $49,363,191 | $40,803,191 | ||||||||
| 2026-27 plan | $48,719,048 | $39,141,135 | $39,066,304 | ||||||||
| Actual | $47,113,143 | $47,914,481 | $46,369,226 | $38,512,572 | $106,805,738 | $55,448,543 | $42,230,579 |
Actual spending is from Departmental Results Reports and the Public Accounts, as published in GC InfoBase. FTEs are full-time equivalents.
