Red Deer is one of a handful of communities with events celebrating Alberta’s birthday.
A function featuring drinks and networking will be held at Hudsons downtown from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday.
“We celebrate Canada’s birthday, so why not celebrate Alberta’s birthday?” said Tricia Pope, the Red Deer event’s co-ordinator.
“A lot of people actually think the August long weekend, Heritage Day, is Alberta’s birthday and that’s why we get the Monday off. But that’s a myth. Heritage Day actually has nothing to do with Alberta’s birthday.”
Pope said she the event gives Albertans a chance to celebrate their provincial roots.
Due to the limited number of occupants allowed in the pub, people wanting to attend are asked to register by emailing support@albertaverified.ca.
There will also be celebrations held in Airdrie, Brooks, Calgary and Edmonton.
The provincewide birthday party will also mark the launch of the Alberta Verified program, which will promote Alberta products to Albertans.
Jim Blake, Alberta Verified program communications director, said the non-partisan and non-political initiative “will work with and encourage Alberta eateries, stores and more to use Alberta products and be recognized for doing so.”
“By buying products that support our family, neighbours and friends, we can make Alberta stronger and create more jobs by buying local,” said Blake.
“There are so many negative calls for boycotts of other provinces that we do not feel are effective. We feel informing the consumer of what is actually verified as Albertan will provide them a choice to support Alberta with their hard-earned money.”
Once an Alberta Verified representative meets with a company and they join the program, the company will be able to display the Alberta Verified logo beside menu items, on packaging, their website and on the entrance of their premises.
“We feel that this initiative is positive and is exactly what Alberta needs. We are family and need to help one another, and quite frankly, I think Albertans are sick of the negative attacks on Alberta and this allows us to unite in a constructive manner by promoting each other,” said Blake.
Verified Alberta is vying to make Sept. 1 an official provincial holiday in the future.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter