The first Monday in August is Alberta’s Heritage Day, as per section 2 of the Alberta Human Rights Act.
In 1974, the Government of Alberta declared this day as an annual holiday. That year and the next, a multicultural concert was held at Fort Edmonton Park. In 1976, 11 ethno-cultural communities gathered in Hawrelak Park in Edmonton to share their cultures’ cuisine, entertainment, crafts, and more. This was the beginning of the Edmonton Heritage Festival, which is celebrated every year over the August long weekend. Calgary’s Heritage Festival has also celebrated Heritage Day at Heritage Park for over 40 years.
Today, events across the province celebrate Alberta’s history and rich multicultural society and help us recognize the value that diversity and multiculturalism bring to our province.
