Harper Government Invests in Arts, Culture, and Official Languages in Newfoundland and Labrador

HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY, NL, Aug. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - New investments in arts, culture and official languages in Newfoundland and Labrador are helping boost the economy and create jobs and growth. Support for 46 projects throughout the province was announced today by the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

Funding will support a wide range of projects across the province. Some of the organizations receiving support include the Placentia Area Historical Society, provincial Arts and Culture Centres in various locations, the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network, the Association francophone du Labrador, and the Labrador Creative Arts Festival. From local festivals to major cultural events and community development activities, projects will provide residents and visitors with rich cultural experiences.

"This year marks the start of the five-year countdown to Canada's 150th birthday in 2017," said Minister Moore. "Our Government is proud to invest in projects that contribute to our collective identity and define who we are as Canadians.  On the road to 2017, let us continue to celebrate all of the things that make Canada the united, prosperous and free country we are today."

"Investing in arts and culture is important to Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Toews. "We are proud to partner with groups that contribute to the cultural vitality of this province. These projects will strengthen our communities, benefit local economies, and promote tourism across the province."

"The Labrador Creative Arts Festival committee is deeply appreciative of the long-term support we have received from the Government of Canada for our festival, which is in its 37th year and is the longest-running children's festival in Canada. Young people in Labrador from Nain to Black Tickle come together to celebrate their communities through performing arts, to express their thoughts and hopes, and to learn to enhance their skills through workshops and performances offered by visiting artists in many disciplines," said Martha MacDonald, Chair of the Festival. "All this is made possible through the contributions of agencies and corporations. The Department of Canadian Heritage has long been an important participant in the festival, and we are grateful for the support we receive and for the assistance of the staff."

The Government of Canada has provided total funding of $868,619 through eight programs of the Department of Canadian Heritage: the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program, the Canada Arts Presentation Fund, the Museums Assistance Program. the Development of Official-Language Communities program, the Enhancement of Official Languages Program, the Aboriginal Women's Programming Elements of the Aboriginal Peoples' Program, the Canada Book Fund, and the Canada Cultural Investment Fund. For more information about these projects, see the attached backgrounder.

BACKGROUNDER

Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage
This program provides Canadians with more opportunities to take part in activities that present local arts and culture and celebrate local history and heritage.
Bird Cove Big Droke Pre-/Historic Cultures Foundation 6th Annual Big Droke Heritage Festival $2,800
(2012-2013)
Lewisporte Mussel Bed Soiree Committee 26th Annual Mussel Bed Soiree $12,300
(2012-2013)
Petty Harbour Maddox Cove Petty Harbour Maddox Cove Heritage Museum Association PHMC Arts & Heritage Festival $3,600
(2012-2013)
Portugal Cove South Cape Race - PCS Heritage Cape Race Heritage Days $7,700
(2012-2013)
Mount Pearl Mount Pearl City Days Celebrations Mount Pearl City Days Celebrations 2012 $14,500
(2012-2013)
Fortune Feller From Fortune International Festival Feller from Fortune International Festival $6,900
(2012-2013)
Hermitage Hermitage Lion's Club Rum Runner Festival $3,100
(2012-2013)
Norris Arm Norris Arm Flying Boat Festival Norris Arm Flying Boat Festival $3,800
(2012-2013)
Botwood Botwood Flying Boat Festival Botwood Flying Boat Festival $8,100
(2012-2013)
Bay Roberts Bay Roberts Cultural Foundation Holdin' Ground Festival $12,900
(2012-2013)
Placentia Placentia Area Historical Society Voices of Placentia Bay (Legacy Project) $93,757
(2013-2014)
Arnold's Cove Arnold's Cove Recreation Committee Arnold's Cove Fog Festival $3,800
(2012-13)
Isle-aux-Morts Ann Harvey Days Committee Ann Harvey Days Festival $13,000
(2012-2013)
Eastport Eastport Peninsula Heritage Society Beaches Accordion Festival $3,200
(2012-2013)
Eastport Eastport Peninsula Heritage Society Gerald S. Doyle Folk Song Festival $2,300
(2012-2013)
Happy Adventure Happy Adventure Pirate Fest Committee Happy Adventure Pirate Fest $4,000
(2012-2013)
Harbour Breton Harbour Breton Recreation Corporation Red Head Rocks Festival $3,100
(2012-2013)
Heart's Delight-Islington Heart's Delight / Islington Recreation Committee Heart's Delight-Islington (Town Days) $2,300
(2012-2013)
Newman Sound Heritage Foundation For Terra Nova National Park Heritage Folk Festival $2,200
(2012-2013)
St. Stephen's Holyrood Pond Development 3rd Annual Holyrood Pond Heritage Festival $2,800
(2012-2013)
Bell Island Lance Cove Beach Development Fund 6th Annual NL Button Accordion Idol Show $2,600
(2012-2013)
Little Bay Islands Little Bay Islands Heritage Society NL Traditional Songwriters Festival $10,300
(2012-2013)
Mary's Harbour Mary's Harbour Crab Festival Committee Mary's Harbour Crab Festival $3,800
(2012-2013)
Conne River Miawpukek First Nation Traditional Powwow Committee Miawpukek Traditional Powwow $7,900
(2012-2013)
Eastport Seafest Committee Seafest Celebrations 2012 $5,500
(2012-2013)
Gambo Smallwood Era Development Corporation (SEDCOR) Smallwood Days Festival $11,400
(2012-2013)
Ferryland Southern Shore Folk Arts Council Southern Shore Shamrock Festival $9,000
(2012-2013)
Spaniard's Bay Spaniard's Bay Special Events Committee Lassy Days $13,800
(2012-2013)
Conception Harbour St. Anne's Parish Historical Heritage Group 4th Annual Folk Festival $5,300
(2012-2013)
St. Shott's St. Shott's Recreation Committee St. Shott's Heritage Days Festival $3,900
(2012-2013)
Paradise Sunsplash Committee SunSplash $3,300
(2012-2013)
Trinity Trinity Historical Society Trinity Festival Days $4,800
(2012-2013)
Labrador Straits Forteau Lions Club Labrador Straits Bakeapple Folk Festival $4,100
(2012-2013)
Whiteway Whiteway Recreation Commission Whiteway Days - 100th Anniversary $2,700
(2012-2013)
  TOTAL: $294,557

Canada Arts Presentation Fund
This fund gives Canadians increased access to the variety and richness of Canada's culture through professional arts festivals, presentations of live professional performances, and other artistic experiences.
St. John's, Gander, Grand Falls, Stephenville, Corner Brook, Labrador City Arts and Culture Centres, Province of Newfoundland and Labrador Presentation Series, 2012-2013 Season $65,000
(2012-2013)
Happy Valley-Goose Bay Labrador Creative Arts Festival Labrador Creative Arts Festival - 2012 $20,000
(2012-2013
and 2013-2014)
Eastport Winterset In Summer Winterset in Summer Literary Festival $18,000
(2012-2013
and 2013-2014)
  TOTAL: $103,000

Museums Assistance Program
This program provides funding to Canadian museums and related institutions for projects that foster excellence in museum activities and that facilitate access to the treasures of our collective heritage.
Mount Pearl Admiralty House Museum Storage Improvements $1,297
(2012-2013)
  TOTAL: $1,297

Official Languages: Development of Official-Language Communities Program
This program aims to foster the development of Canada's minority Anglophone and Francophone communities and enable them to participate fully in all aspects of Canadian life.
St. John's Franco-Jeunes de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador Rencontre jeunesse provinciale 2012 $15,000
(2012-2013)
Labrador City Association Francophone du Labrador Célébrons l'AFL $15,000
(2012-2013)
$10,000
(2013-2014)
St. John's Troupe Téâtro Petite histoire de poux $13,000
(2012-2013)
St. John's Franco-Jeunes de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador Tournée FrancoFrolic $ 7,500
(2012-2013)
  TOTAL: $60,500

Official Languages: Enhancement of Official Languages Program
This program is designed to foster among Canadians a greater understanding and appreciation of the benefits of linguistic duality.
St. John's Canadian Parents for French - Newfoundland And Labrador Collaboration in Promotion 2012-2014 $136,710
(2012-2013)
$136,710
(2013-2014)
  TOTAL: $273,420

Aboriginal Peoples' Program: Aboriginal Women's Programming Elements
This component enables Aboriginal women to influence policies, programs, legislation, and decision making that affect the social, cultural, economic, and political well-being in their communities and in Canadian society. It includes a component to address issues around family violence and a self-government initiative to support the full participation of Aboriginal women in consultations and decision-making processes.
Stephenville Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network Following in Our Grandmother's Footprints: Realizing Our Leadership Potential $33,987
(2012-2013)
  TOTAL: $33,987

Canada Book Fund
The principal objective of this fund is to ensure access to a diverse range of Canadian-authored books in Canada and abroad. It seeks to achieve this objective by fostering a strong Canadian book industry that publishes and markets Canadian-authored books.
Portugal Cove-St. Philip's Boulder Publications Technology Internship $20,000
(2012-2013)
  TOTAL: $20,000

Canada Cultural Investment Fund: Endowment Incentives Component
This component encourages Canadians to donate to professional arts organizations. This year, the Government of Canada is providing 81 cents for every dollar donated by the private sector. Since 2006, this program has provided more than $97 million to various endowment funds in Canada, while the private sector has provided $145 million, for a total of more than $242 million.
St. John's Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador National Theatre School of Canada $81, 858
(2011-2012)
  TOTAL: $81,858

GRAND TOTAL, ALL PROGRAMS: $868,619

 

SOURCE: Canadian Heritage

For further information:

For more information (media only), please contact:

Sébastien Gariépy
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
819-997-7788

Gilles Thériault
Director, Regional Communications
Atlantic Region
Canadian Heritage
506-851-3980
gilles.theriault@pch.gc.ca

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca 

(This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Newsroom.)