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'unique spirit, culture and heritage'

Weekend festivities planned at Monarch Theatre to celebrate Alberta Day

Sep 1, 2022 | 3:41 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Today marks the first-ever Alberta Day celebration in the province. Premier Jason Kenney proclaimed Sept. 1 to be known as Alberta Day, in accordance to when Alberta officially became a province of Canada.

According to the provincial government’s website, Alberta Day was created to celebrate the “unique spirit, culture and heritage” of our province.

Municipalities all across the province will be ringing in the day, with several events scheduled into the weekend.

Here in Medicine Hat, celebrations hosted by the city will take place at the historic Monarch Theatre in the heart of downtown this Saturday.

The day will start off with an Elder prayer to signify the land the province resides on, followed by cultural performances on stage and heritage displays in the lobby. Two movies will be shown throughout the day as well: The Grizzles and Land, the latter being filmed right here in Alberta.

“We’re really excited to be able to celebrate Alberta,” says Josie Doll, entertainment & events coordinator for the city.

She says holding the event at the Monarch is important to exhibit Medicine Hat’s contribution to the province as a whole.

“It’s just a great way to showcase what we have; to showcase the theatre, to really remember the culture, the diversity, the heritage that has made Alberta what it has been since 1905, and prior to even that time,” Doll says. “So we’re very fortunate to be able to open the theatre up for this event.”

The doors to the Monarch open at noon on Saturday, with the program beginning at 1 p.m. and running until 9 p.m. Doll encourages those coming down to celebrate to get there sooner than later to secure a seat in the theatre and to take advantage of the free pop and popcorn.