The series consists of information regarding programs and events sponsored by the Canadian Unity Council; primarily those prior to the establishment of the Centre for Research and Information on Canada (CRIC) and, after its establishment, events carried out independently of CRIC. About half the records in this series concern the celebration of Canada Week which was first introduced by the Canada Committee in 1969. The origin of the week-long festival in honour of Canada's birthday lay in the desire to perpetuate the spirit of the 1967 Centennial celebrations. The series contains the May-June 1971 edition of the Option Canada Bulletin which lists Canada Week national projects and suggests activities for community groups, the media and businesses. A report of the Council's Committee on Canada Week, 1975-1980, includes objectives for this program, action plans for different types of organizations, budget and sponsorship information and a report on media impact. In 1980 the Council produced a reaction plan to a study on the development of new structures for Canada Day celebrations commissioned by the Department of the Secretary of State in 1979. It includes a review of and commentary on the federal government's Festival Canada proposal, correspondence and memoranda, weekly activity reports, minutes of meetings and budget information. There is also a statement of understanding between the Council and the Canadian Folk Arts Council regarding the distribution of federal funding and organization of national celebrations and commentary on the Secretary of State proposal. From 1982 to 1984 the Council did not participate in the organization of Canada Day celebrations. In 1984, the Council proposed a transition from a government organizing committee to a new model in which the Council would fulfill a prominent role. The series contains an outline of the Council's position, a guide used to plan events, a draft organization chart, and budget information. The Council set provincial and territorial Canada Day committees in place and provided a Canada Week planning guide for local chairs. A submission to the Secretary of State on the 1986 activities contains an organization chart of the national committees and the Council's committee structures. The series includes provincial committee activity reports, lists of private sector participants, committee-related correspondence, media mailing lists and newspaper clippings. There are also minutes and agendas of National Canada Day Committee meetings and Canada Day reports for 1986.
The remaining records for this series concern other activities carried out by the Council between 1977 and 2005, including the Friends of Canada Initiative, the "Tell us what it means to be a Canadian" campaign, various promotions, symposia and gala events. In 1979, the Quebec Chapter launched a campaign, "Tell us what it means to be a Canadian". Announcements were placed in magazines with a wide readership in Quebec and the records include readers' responses. In 1988, the Council developed a multi-year campaign of public service announcements to be conducted in cooperation with the media. Records include a summary presentation on the campaign, proposals on communications and advertising strategy, budget information, and correspondence. The series also includes information regarding the Friends of Canada initiative, a project first announced at the Council's annual meeting in 1991. Membership was to consist of individual Canadians from business, labour, professional and service club backgrounds to create a wave of support for the Canadian Unity option. The project involved an ambitious nation-wide system of provincial and regional recruitment. Records of Friends of Canada include a presentation, an action plan with a provincial committee organization chart, a Speakers' Bureau list and editions of the Friends of Canada Newsletter. The series also holds records of Ontario and Atlantic regional meetings in 1993, including agendas and information on fundraising. Planning records pertaining to the Outstanding Canadian Award Gala inaugural event include a program and an event book containing an organization chart, biographical notes, sponsorship information, meeting notes and minutes, ticket seller's information, and a final budget. In addition, the series holds itineraries and points of discussion for a proposed Intra-Canada Tours project.
