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October 19, 1999
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)


Minister announces provincial "First Light" celebration plans

Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, announced today a program that encourages communities across Newfoundland and Labrador to get in on the spirit of the millennium celebrations.

"To mark the beginning of this extraordinary millennium year, we are asking all municipalities in the province to join together in a special "First Light" celebration. The symbol of "First Light" will join hundreds of towns and cities across the province in a unique event that will signal the beginning of the millennium in North America. The Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, through its Special Celebrations initiative, invites your community to participate," said Minister Furey.

"Organize a First Light Celebration event for New Year's Eve. Create a light source at midnight and, if possible, maintain the light until the first rays of dawn illuminate the early morning skies of January 1. There could be many forms of light created for this event: fireworks, electric lighting, and hilltop beacons will light up the night. Organize the event and promote it in your local area so that it will become a project for all to enjoy. Consider other activities to supplement the event and make this a night to remember in the history of your community. Bring people together to participate and join hundreds of other Newfoundland and Labrador communities in this celebration of light.

All municipalities are invited to register their New Year's Eve "First Light" event by sending in a completed application form. Existing events and new events will qualify. A grant of $300 is available to the first two hundred municipalities to register their events with Special Celebrations provided that there is a commitment to match this grant on a 50/50 basis from community resources. A Vikings! 1000 Years flag and banner will be provided to every participating community.

North America's First Millennium Celebration will be here in Newfoundland and Labrador. On December 31, 1999 and January 1, 2000 we will join communities around the world in welcoming the new millennium and we will be the first in North America to celebrate the experience. Early on New Year's morning, the first light of the year 2000 will shine on Newfoundland and Labrador before it moves across the continent heralding the dawn of the third millennium.

The celebrations of New Year's Eve and January 1 mark the beginning of a tremendous year in our province - Vikings! 1000 Years. This year long celebration commemorates the arrival of the Vikings on our shores 1000 years ago. The many festivals and events of Vikings! 1000 Years will celebrate this significant period in our history and the history of the world.

As a part of this millennium evening, there is an opportunity to view Debut 2000 via television from the St. John's harbourfront and enjoy the tremendous entertainment of the Countdown Concert and the other special events planned. The Countdown Concert will be televised across the province and portions of the activities will be telecast around the globe.

Further information on the "First Light" program and how to receive an application form is in the background material accompanying this news release.

Media contact: George Earles, Public Relations/Communications, (709) 729-4825.

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Backgrounder

"First Light" Celebrations

TYPES OF "FIRST LIGHT"

The type of lighting will be left to the discretion and ingenuity of each community.

- Fireworks are a common means of celebrating the New Year and will undoubtedly be used in many communities for this event. If a local service club or group usually organizes the fireworks for New Year's Eve, it might also be interested in organizing this First Light Celebration. All necessary permits will be the responsibility of the local organizers.

- Electric lighting could easily be used for the First Light Celebration. An arrangement of light bulbs, Christmas lights, or flood lights could be developed. Perhaps a configuration of 2000 individual lights might be an appropriate project.

- Municipalities could develop other types of "First Light." Some could consider permanent light sources to serve as beacons for the millennium year.

- Some communities may have existing New Year's Eve programs involving fireworks or lighting. These programs will qualify for the First Light Celebrations.

SUPPLEMENTARY ACTIVITIES

There are many supplementary activities that could be associated with the First Light Celebrations. The following are but a few of the possibilities:

- Viewing the Debut 2000 Countdown Concert on a large screen monitor and counting down to the beginning of the next thousand years.

- A Millennium Sunrise Ceremony that involves the raising of the Viking! 1000 Years flag.

- A Millennium Breakfast to prepare for the future.

- A Community "Firsts" event that allows individuals to become the first person in the community to accomplish a particular task in the millennium ( i.e. first to score a goal, first to hit a baseball, first to play an accordion, etc. )

- Participation in World Peace Day 2000. January 1, 2000 is the beginning of the U.N. International Year for a Culture of Peace.

- A time capsule to carry forward the treasures and memories of the last day of the second millennium.

- A Millennium Countdown Clock on the municipal website.

- A Millennium Resolutions Wall to list the resolves of determined community individuals.

- A fitness activity such as walking, aerobics, or swimming.

APPLICATION PROCESS

- To obtain an application form, refer to contact information below.

- Only municipalities may apply. Organizations, service clubs, or groups planning the event should have their local municipality make application.

- All municipalities intending to participate in the First Light Celebrations can submit a completed application form to the Special Celebrations unit of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. Applicants are expected to provide detailed information on the proposed event.

- The first 200 applications received and approved will be awarded a grant of $300.

- Only one grant will be awarded per municipality.

For further information, contact:

Dean Williams
Special Celebrations
P.O. Box 1997
Crosbie Building
1 Crosbie Place
St. John's, NF
A1C 5R4
Phone: (709) 729-4242
Fax: (709) 579-2067
email: williamsd@mail.gov.nf.ca

For information on Debut 2000 visit the website at www.debut2000.com or by contacting Anchor Events Inc. at 709-753-4778.

1999 10 19 10:30 a.m.


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