Good progress is being made on a planned celebration of Canada's 150th birthday in Altona.

A local committee has been working hard on coming up with ideas to mark the special occasion and at the same time link that celebration to Altona's history.

"We've talked about some ideas that would fit with community's history, remembering that that in 1995 Altona celebrated its centennial. So we've discussed holding a community celebration that would follow certain themes such as being inclusive, celebrating with the indigenous community and being sensitive to the environment and of course multi-culturalism," said town councillor and committee member Al Friesen.

Based on that framework, the committee has decided to hold a community picnic event in June that would involve the schools, hanging Canada 150 banners from light standards in town and establishing a contest that would provide people an opportunity to express their feelings on what Canada means to them.

"So we have chosen to set up a contest that involves art, poetry and writing with a Canadian Heroes theme, and those heroes could include well known people or it could be someone like your grandmother because of what she meant to you," said Friesen.

The contest will accept submission until April 19th, and anyone can submit a piece of writing, poetry or art based on the Canadian Hero theme. The entries in each age category will be judged and Friesens Corporation will publish the winners and finalists of the competition in a book, which will be released to the public on June 14 at the Altona Centennial Park as part of the community picnic.

In a company news release, Friesen's President Chad Friesen indicated the donation of the book recognizes writing and the arts during Canada's 150th anniversary and is a great fit, as the company celebrates 110 years since it's founding by D. W. Friesen, in Altona in 1907.

The committee has also partnered with Altona branch of South Central Regional Library where people can pick up their contest entry forms.

Friesen says the committee feels the event will give the town the opportunity to shine as Altogether Altona, noting it will be a great way to connect to Canada.