Funding announcements for Culture and Official Languages
Victoria, British Columbia
August 27, 2010
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am delighted to be here today in Victoria at the Royal British Columbia Museum, a fitting venue for today's event.
Year after year, the City of Victoria continues to entice us with its charm and hospitality. Our Government is pleased to contribute to the growth of this wonderful city and province by investing in the arts and culture, an important engine that drives your local economy.
Victoria's dynamic cultural scene is also a major contributor to the excellent quality of life this city offers its residents.
We know that arts and culture play a vital role in the lives of Canadians and in the development of communities throughout the country. We know that culture and heritage help to build strong communities, while contributing to the economy.
We also know how important it is to provide support for our artists.
I'm proud to say that our Government's total investment in arts programs will be more than $1.5 billion over the next five years.
That is an unprecedented level of support.
Today, I am delighted to announce that our Government is investing in arts, heritage and community organizations right here in this province.
This funding supports a wide range of arts initiatives, including the 2010 edition of Victoria Fringe Festival, which just opened yesterday, and several other festivals that will be taking place in this region during the next few months.
In fact, our Government is investing in more than 700 summer festivals in more than 400 communities throughout the country. We are proud to support the excellent work your organizations are doing to bring wonderful and vibrant artistic and cultural experiences to your communities.
Your efforts are contributing significantly to their vitality and to Canada's rich and diverse heritage.
Those of you working on arts and culture presentations ... building the capacity of people working in arts, culture and heritage ... improving arts and cultural infrastructure ... or training future cultural leaders ... the federal government support that I am announcing today will allow your organizations to continue to do what you do best... provide an incredible range of arts and heritage programming to people of all ages, right here in Victoria and throughout communities in British Columbia.
ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE
It is my pleasure to announce that the Government of Canada is providing funding totalling more than $1 million to support the important work that you are doing in Victoria to deliver quality arts, culture and heritage programs.The Intrepid Theatre Company Society will receive $160,000, over two years, to help with the production of its festival. In addition, the Canada Arts Presentation Fund will invest $554,000 in five projects including those offered by:
- the Victoria Independent Film and Video Festival,
- Dance Victoria, and
- The Belfry Theatre Company.
Nearly $108,000 will be invested in the Victoria Foundation through the Endowment program that will inject funds into the Pacific Opera Victoria Association, Open Space Arts Society, Early Music Society of the Islands and the Canadian Heritage Arts Society.
Another $630,000 over 3 years will be invested in the Canadian College of the Performing Arts through the Canada Arts Training Fund.
And the Royal British Columbia Museum's virtual exhibit Invasive Species, Biodiversity at Risk, will receive close to $153,000 in funding under the Canadian Heritage Information Network, so that the wealth of information contained in the museum's collections can be shared online with Canadians.
ABORIGINAL PEOPLE
The Government of Canada also recognizes the importance of preserving and promoting Aboriginal culture, knowledge and traditions. We are proud to partner with Carriers of the Light, an organization that is making great strides in providing Aboriginal women with resource services and learning opportunities.A $24,500 investment in this organization will connect Aboriginal women with Elders so that the transfer of cultural knowledge, teachings and language will be carried on to the next generation.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
Our Government is proud to invest in culture here, as we know that these investments benefit the entire population. But it doesn't stop there. As you know, a part of my mandate also touches official languages.Our Government knows that our two official languages form an important element in our Canadian identity. In fact, they also represent an undisputable economic, social and cultural advantage. This is why we support the development of official- language minority communities because of the richness and vitality that they give to Canadian society.
Therefore, it is my great pleasure to announce the ratification of an agreement relating to official languages in British Columbia, reached with the Government of British Columbia.
The education agreement, totalling a federal contribution of more than $69 million over 4 years, will support the provincial government in providing education in French to young Francophones and French as a second language education to young English-speaking British Columbians. In a country that is steadily growing more culturally and linguistically diverse, having two official languages contributes to bringing Canadians together.
In addition to this collaboration with the Province of British Columbia, the Government of Canada will provide funding to two francophone organizations.
The Société francophone de Victoria is receiving $250,000 to help this organization continue contributing to the vitality of the Francophone community of British Columbia and to the growth of our two official languages in the province. Additionally, $24,500 in financial support will go to the Conseil jeunesse francophone de la Colombie-Britannique to fund programs aimed at Francophone youth.
Promoting both official languages and supporting minority language communities are priorities of this government. The Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008-2013: Acting for the Future with its unprecedented government-wide investment of $1.1 billion is tangible proof of its support.
All told, I am pleased to announce that our Government is investing more than $1.6 million under nine programs of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
I salute my counterparts in the Government of British Columbia for their important collaboration regarding official languages.
In closing, let me take this opportunity to pay tribute to everyone who works so hard to ensure the success of the organizations represented here today.
With your work, Victoria, British Columbia, will continue to be known as a place where the arts and culture are accessible, appreciated, and celebrated in Canada's two official languages.
Thank you.