Canada

Countdown begins:150 days until 150th anniversary of Confederation

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly marked 150 days until the 150th anniversary year of Canada's confederation, promising events across the country to celebrate the occasion, called Canada 150.

CBC/Radio-Canada will be following key moments of the countdown to Canada 150

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly takes a group selfie after marking the beginning of the Canada 150 countdown in Gatineau, Que. (CBC)

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly today marked 150 days until the 150th anniversary year of Canada's Confederation, promising events across the country to celebrate the occasion, known as Canada 150.

"We're inviting Canadians from everywhere, here in our beautiful country and abroad, to be part of this journey by joining the Canada 150 countdown," Joly told a crowd on Thursday in Gatineau, Que.​

Joly said the events include flash mobs, pop-up activities and temporary as well as permanent art installations.

She also announced that CBC and French-language Radio-Canada will be broadcast partners for Canada 150.

"To get the message to Canadians, I'm pleased to announce our official countdown partner, CBC/Radio-Canada, will be capturing some of the most exciting moments along the way," she said.

The countdown will end on Dec. 31, 2016.