This year marks the 125th anniversary of The Salvation Army's work in the Maritime Division. The division has planned a number of commemorative events for the year with the theme of “Rooted in Hope.”

Commissioners William W. and Marilyn D. Francis, territorial leaders, launched the festivities in Halifax, renaming the venerable Booth Centre complex as The Centre of Hope; and unveiling an extraordinary gift of hope and music, the symbolic “125 Guitar” crafted by renowned luthier, George Rizsanyi. Humorist Bill Carr hosted the Festival of Praise Concert at The Full Gospel Church in Hammonds Plains, N.S., with sparkling music and vocals provided by the Halifax Citadel and Fairview Citadel Brass Band, and Salvationist Wendy Birt leading the Spryfield Girls' Chorale.

The united worship service on Sunday witnessed the largest gathering of Salvationists in the division since the congress of 2002, with over 400 at historic Pier 21, the building at which Canada welcomed more than one million immigrants between 1928 and 1971. A highlight of the event was the enrolment of 10 junior soldiers and 11 senior soldiers. Commissioners Francis will return to the division in September for the celebrations in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Top: Enrolment of senior and junior soldiers; above: Commissioners William and Marilyn Francis, territorial leaders, and Major Larry Martin, divisional commander, officially rename the Booth Centre complex as The Centre of Hope; bottom: Commissioners Francis display the "125 Guitar"