We’ll see some significant historical milestones in the next decade: commemorating the bicentennial of the War of 1812, and the 1815 birth of Sir John A. Macdonald; 2017 marks the centennial of the National Hockey League, and the sesquicentennial of Confederation (which of these will be considered the more prominent nation-building event?); and the 25th anniversary of the signing of NAFTA. The federal government wants Canadians to know more about them and is encouraging historically-minded groups to apply for support from Canadian Heritage for programs aimed telling those stories.
Great! Hopefully spending doesn’t all go to statues, events and other programming that makes a one-time impact and then is just as quickly forgotten. This could be an interesting decade if the government spends its money wisely on projecting, and encourages the production of tools that make a lasting impact by fostering meaningful and ongoing connections. No doubt social media is expected to play a large role, but will they give people something substantive to talk about? If we are to commemorate these milestones effectively, there needs to be a content-first strategy.
