By Melanie Penner

The Town of Morden will be getting some national exposure on Canada Day.

As a 2008 Cultural Capital of Canada, Morden was asked to send three artists to Ottawa to celebrate Canada Day and represent the community and its Chautauqua Spirit project.

Coordinator Nancy Penner said to be invited to Ottawa to showcase the community in this way is a tremendous opportunity.

She said in addition to having the three artists featured in their own “Morden” tent, Lulu & the Tomcat will be performing two 30-minute sets on the main stage at Parliament Hill.

Penner said the invitation was specific that there be interaction with the public.

Sculpture Jake Goertzen will be making the trip along with some of his works in progress and examples of tools and techniques he uses. Katie Friesen will be doing some quilting on site and bringing along samples from the Chautauqua Spirit quilt and the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre will be doing some hands on education for children of all ages.

CFDC curator Anita Janzic said they are a unique attraction as they have the largest collection of marine reptile fossils in Canada and are excited about being able to showcase that in the nation’s Capital.

Janzic said they will be setting up a static display of samples as well as fossil replicas that the public will be able to handle. There will also be an interactive display for children.

“They will get to pretend to be paleontologists by digging with a brush in a box of sand for a fossil replica and make notes and draw their discoveries,” she explained.

She said they really want to educate people on the fact that these are not dinosaurs, but marine reptiles that have all been collected locally from one area in Manitoba.

“This makes us a wonderful destination for people of all ages and we hope this opportunity in Ottawa will bring some more visitors and travelers our way.”

Penner noted the 10 x 20 tent will be decorated with the town’s banners used during its 125 celebrations which feature many different aspects of the community and participants will be recognizable in their “candy-apple green” Morden t-shirts.