Government of Canada Announces Multi-Year Investment in Festival du Voyageur

Federal funding is confirmed for 2015 and 2016 editions of the annual winter festival

WINNIPEG, Feb. 23, 2014 /CNW/ - The Festival du Voyageur is receiving a total of $199,000 from the Government of Canada for the 2015 and 2016 editions of its 10-day festival.

Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Shelly Glover announced the funding at the 2014 Festival du Voyageur Closing Ceremonies.

Federal funding will support the presentation of established and emerging artists from across Canada performing popular, folk and traditional music, as well as dance, storytelling, and theatre. It will also assist the organization in providing Voyageur apprentice workshops and programming for school groups to engage in a range of activities and hands-on workshops.

Quick Facts

• Festival du Voyageur is a celebration of Manitoba's fur-trading past and unique French heritage and culture.
• Approximately 100,000 people attend western Canada's largest annual winter festival every year.
• Funding announced today is provided through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program 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.

Quotes
"I had the opportunity to attend a number of events at this year's Festival du Voyageur and to celebrate our French Canadian and Métis joie de vivre with thousands of Manitobans and visitors to our province. There is no question that festivals like this one help promote tourism and boost our economy, and our government is proud to support them in their work."
—Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

"We are pleased to receive funding again from Canadian Heritage for the next two years. The Festival plays an important role in presenting French Canadian artists, and this funding will help us carry out our mission of promoting the joie de vivre of Francophone Canada throughout the year by creating inspired artistic, educational, historic and cultural experiences from the era of the voyageurs. We sincerely thank Minister Glover and the Government of Canada."
— Ginette Lavack Walters, Executive Director, Festival du Voyageur

Associated Links
Festival du Voyageur
Canada Arts Presentation Fund

SOURCE: Canadian Heritage

For further information:

Follow us on Twitter: @CdnHeritage

Contacts

Marisa Monnin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
819-997-7788

Francine D. Lefebvre
Regional Communications Manager
Prairies and Northern Region
Canadian Heritage
Tel.: [phone]
Cell: 204-899-8611
[email protected]

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
[email protected]