Kingston, 29 March 2022 - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has announced that “the Jamaican colours — black, green and gold — will light up Niagara Falls in Canada on Independence Day.

Minister Grange was launching Jamaica 60 in Canada at the Toronto Event Centre, Grand Bizarre on Saturday, March 26. Tourism Minister, the Honourable Edmund Bartlett, co-hosted the event.

Minister Grange’s Statement follows:

“Jamaica 60 will be a mix of impactful Legacy Projects and entertaining, exciting Commemorative Events. These will be revealed by the Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, as the Keynote Speaker at the Grand Launch of Jamaica 60 in Jamaica in April.

“The Emancipation and Independence period, to culminate as usual with the Grand Gala on Independence Day, will be filled with the usual pomp and pageantry. Try not to miss the Grand Gala. Lots will be in store for you. But if things don’t quite work out for you to join us inside the National Stadium, worry not.

“We plan on using technology to link the Jamaican Diaspora with Independence Day activities inside the National Stadium with ‘Watch Parties’ in the main Diaspora communities across the world including Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

“You will be able to see real time what’s happening at the Grand Gala, and at the same time you will be able to share with us what you are doing to celebrate our Diamond Jubilee. This will include witnessing the Jamaican colours lighting up Niagara Falls. It will be fireworks when we ‘tun it up’.

Let us commit not only to a celebration with a fire burning in our hearts that will provide energy and warmth to our people but also to the building of our nation so that everyone will see Jamaica as the place of choice to live, work, do business and raise families.

Indeed, when the black, green and gold standard was raised on that night of August 6, 1962, Jamaicans everywhere felt a fire ignited in their body, mind and spirit as our nation took a bold step on the journey to greatness.

This is the fire we are determined to re-ignite in Jamaica 60. This is the natural mystic that is Jamaica.

And that is why, amid the fight against a global pandemic and our decision to surge forward through the creation of corridors of resilience, we decided on the Jamaica 60 theme – Jamaica 60: Re-igniting a Nation for Greatness.

This spirit of togetherness warms our hearts; I am pleased and honoured to launch Jamaica 60 Canada. God bless the Government and people of Canada! God bless the Jamaican Diaspora here in Canada! God bless Jamaica Land We Love!”

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Other dignitaries at the Launch Ceremony included: Her Excellency Sharon J Miller, High Commissioner for Jamaica to Canada; Mr. Lincoln G. Downer, Consul-General for Jamaica in Toronto; Councillor Michael Thompson, Deputy Mayor, City of Toronto and the Honourable Dr. Rosemarie Moodie, OD, (Jamaican born) Senator of Canada.

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