Regina plans New Year's Eve bash to kickoff Canada 150 celebrations

Residents of Regina will be able to celebrate the start of Canada's 150thanniversary with a big bang on New Year's Eve.

The day's festivities will be happening throughoutWascanaPark with public transit carting people around for free.

Some of the events for families to enjoy include entertainment, crafting, painting, magic shows, Indigenous performers, ice skating, snowshoeing and snowman building, as well as Saskatchewan Science Centre fun that ends with their annual Big Bang fireworks show.

The events start at12 p.m. CSTand runs until 5:30 p.m.,with fireworks scheduled for 6 p.m.

• Saskatchewan projects announced for Canada 150 celebrations
• Confederation Centre launches tour to celebrate Canada 150
• Royal Canadian Mint unveils its 2017 Canada 150 circulation coin series

"We're celebrating the best country in the world," said Mayor Michael Fougere on Tuesday.

"Things we take for granted ... we take time to look at the past, where we come from, and look to the future, where we will be going. We have a wonderful country and we should be celebrating our birthday."

Celebrations across Canada

The federal government has kicked in $150,000 for Regina's Canada 150 kickoff event.

It has also committed$2.7 million for 19 projects throughout Saskatchewan for Confederation celebrations in 2017.

The Department of Canadian Heritage has said since the150thyear of Confederation marks a significant milestone for Canada, it wants to ensure every region has a chance to celebrate.

"We're encouraging Canadians to explore their [country]through themes of diversity, themes of inclusion, reconciliation [and]to explore the environment and Canada's outdoors and have events that target youth," saidBrigitteGibson, the department's regional director.