The David Thompson Bicentennials Celebrate Official Launch!

The North American David Thompson Bicentennials is a continent-wide public and private sector heritage awareness partnership running from 2007 to 2009 with regional recognitions continuing to 2011. This partnership will commemorate the character and accomplishments of prominent trader, naturalist, surveyor and map-maker David Thompson as a means of examining our evolving collective relationship to place and history in North America over the past two hundred years.

A variety of commemoration events and activities will take place anywhere in North America where individuals, cultural organizations, service clubs, communities, businesses, tourism operators, industries or national, provincial, state or aboriginal governments would like to re-affirm their region’s history and future by exploring the evolution of our relationship to the North American continent since the fur trade. March 2006 marks the official launch of this immense initiative.

Sponsored by the Alberta Land Surveyor’s Association and Parks Canada, the Bicentennials Launch event includes:
• Bonjour le camp! Thursday, March 30th: a cocktail reception with voyageur-style entertainment including renowned fiddler Gilbert Anderson, and the Edmonton Métis Multicultural Dance Society
• Rendezvous Meeting Day Friday, March 31st: featuring Michale Lang with a sneak-peak of the Glenbow Museum’s upcoming Mavericks exhibit; Presentations by Ken Allred, International Federation of Surveyors; Andy Korsos, The David Thompson Brigade; Information session with Rick Boychuk, Editor, Canadian Geographic; and more.
• Explorer’s Celebration Banquet Friday, March 31st: featuring Keynote Speaker Dr. Jennifer Brown, Director-Centre for Rupert’s Land Studies, University of Winnipeg, and respected author; Showcase Entertainment, TBA; Rainbow Spirit Dancers and Drummers; and traditional flutist Amanda Woodward.
• Fur Trade Activities Saturday, April 1st: Promenade tour of historic Fort Edmonton; Fur-Trader Vignette; and interpreter-led wagon tour of Fort Edmonton Park’s 1885 Street and 1905 Street.

Registration is limited for the launch events. For details and registration please contact Event Coordinator by email at info@davidthompson200.org

For Media Enquiries please contact:
North American David Thompson Bicentennials Partnership
Larry Meriam or Ross MacDonald
C/o P.O. Box 220
Radium Hot Springs, B.C. V0A 1M0
Email: info@davidthompson200.org