Canada turns 150 in 2017 and the City of Vaughan plans to celebrate the milestone all year long.

“There is so much going on in the world, terrible things that are depressing — just look at the Middle East right now and what’s going on in Syria. We’re so lucky in this country where we live to have these amazing celebrations of not only 150 years; it’s the achievements in 150 years,” said Thornhill Coun. Alan Shefman, co-chair of the Vaughan Canada 150 Celebration Task Force.

Among the initiatives being planned by the city is a collective arts project dubbed Catching the Dream.

Vaughan schools, community service organizations and businesses will be invited to create one-of-a-kind dreamcatchers that will be displayed in various public spaces city-wide.

There’s even a tool kit with instructions and materials to help those taking part in this initiative, expected to be launched in March.

The task force is also planning a “friendly” interactive gaming challenge to take place in September in the emerging downtown known as the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC).

“With the anticipated opening of the subway, we want people to really start talking more about our own downtown and realizing where the (Spadina) subway is,” said Concord/Thornhill North Coun. Sandra Yeung Racco, the task force’s other co-chair.

Celebrating Canada’s sesquicentennial will also be a theme at all other city sponsored events, Shefman said, including Winterfest, Concerts in the Park and, of course, Canada Day, which is being moved to Boyd Conservation Area from Mackenzie Glen District Park.

“It’s a huge venue and we’re expecting to have some really exciting programming coming in,” Yeung Racco said.

Thanks to a $25,000 grant secured through CN EcoConnexions From the Ground Up, the city is funding local tree planting projects as well as a special plaque and ceremonial tree to commemorate Canada's 150th anniversary.