City promises 'bigger and better' New Year's Eve celebration to kick off Canada 150

Calgary will kick off Canada's 150th birthday celebrations with a New Year's Eve's party downtown.

"We'reone of 19 cities to receive funding from CanadianHeritage through the Canada 150 fund to make our New Year'sEve bigger and better than ever," Mayor Naheed NenshisaidWednesday, speaking in front of a dancing moose mascot.

The City will host evening activitiesat the municipal building and Olympic Plaza.

Families are invited to a dance party inthe municipal building's atrium, with a New Year's Eve countdown taking place at 9 p.m.

Then the party moves outdoors into Olympic Plaza, where singers with the Cowtown Opera will perform on the roof of Arts Commons. There will also be ice sculptures displayand fireworks.

"I am soexcitedabout Canada 150, celebrating the sesquicentennial of this country, becauseinthisbroken world, now, more than ever, the world needs more Canada,"Nenshisaid.

"Here is our opportunity to celebrate what makesthis country great."

• MORE CALGARY NEWS |Aging affordable housing gets $18M boost for repairs and renovations
• MORE CALGARY NEWS |Armed Chinook Centre robberies trigger security review at Calgary mall