Investment Strengthens Greater Edmonton's Official-Language Minority Community

Funding to help serve local francophone community and entrepreneurs

EDMONTON, Dec. 18, 2017 /CNW/ - The Société radio communautaire du grand Edmonton Society is receiving $400,000 from Western Economic Diversification Canada and almost $296,000 from Canadian Heritage to establish a francophone community radio station for the greater Edmonton area.

This funding was announced today by Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on LGBTQ2 issues, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada and on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

The Société radio communautaire du grand Edmonton Society aims to strengthen the francophone community by unifying and informing them through a French-language community radio station. The radio station will serve a market of 38,000 potential listeners by broadcasting local programming and content developed to serve community needs and interests. The radio station will also offer advertising options to help promote the 325 businesses and community organizations delivering programs and services in French within the greater Edmonton area.

The Government of Canada will continue to support Canadians and their communities to develop, grow and participate in Canadian society using the official language of their choice.

Quotes

• "This investment celebrates and promotes Canada's linguistic diversity and will strengthen the vibrant francophone community in greater Edmonton. I am proud of the Government of Canada's leadership in supporting local official languages groups in fostering their language and culture, enriching their lives, and the lives of those in their community."
  
  Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on LGBTQ2 issues, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada

• "The promotion of our two official languages and the support for official language minority communities is a priority for our Government. The Franco-Albertan community is helping to make our country richer and more diversified. Today's announcement is a clear support to the development and vitality of the Alberta French-speaking community."
  
  The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

• "Our organization's board of directors has been working on this implementation project of a community radio in Edmonton for a long time. All those years of volunteer engagement took place because we all firmly believe in the benefits that this radio can bring to energize and create a united and better-informed Francophone community. Today's announcement regarding the federal government financial support to the programs provided by Western Economic Diversification Canada and Heritage Canada's Strategic Fund confirms that we have every reason to believe in it. This now allows us to get professionally equipped on Radio Cité's road to success."
  
  Jean Patenaude, Président, Société radio communautaire du grande Edmonton Society

Additional Links

• Western Economic Diversification Canada
• Canadian Heritage

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SOURCE Western Economic Diversification Canada

For further information: Donna Kinley, Regional Communications Manager, Western Economic Diversification Canada, Telephone: [phone], Email: [e-mail]; Carole Saint-Cyr, Parole d'art Communications, Société radio communautaire de grand Edmonton Society, Telephone: [phone], Email: [e-mail]