The world's largest Easter Egg (Pysanka) in Vegreville, Alberta. (Photo 42252396 © Suzanne Paul | Dreamstime.com)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

what's on the calendar?

Province proposes Special Days Act to promote cultural awareness and history education

Mar 10, 2022 | 1:35 PM

The Government of Alberta is looking to implement a new way to put emphasis on the calendar’s most important days.

New legislation — Bill 3 — called the Special Days Act aims to promote greater cultural awareness, and inspire Albertans to take action on important causes and around historic events.

“Special days help us celebrate Alberta’s vibrant cultural diversity, focus our attention on important issues and remember our shared heritage,” says Ron Orr, Culture Minister, and MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka. “It’s important to acknowledge these dates, and the Special Days Act will make it easier for Alberta’s government to do so.”

Currently, the government recognizes special dates through proclamations, which establish a date in perpetuity, and declarations, which recognize a date for one year only, as they happen. They are not legally protected, however.

Bill 3, if passed, would give ministers the authority to recognize dates in perpetuity through a Ministerial Declaration, which would be tracked online to help Albertans learn about them and prevent duplicate requests.

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Consolidating them in one place, where all Albertans can find them, will support fair process and a more organized presentation, a release states.

Bill 3 was given first reading on March 9. Once approved, requests can be made here.