Details on Transfer Payment Programs of $5 Million or More

The Canada Arts Presentation Fund gives Canadians access to a variety of professional artistic experiences in their communities. It provides financial assistance to Canadian not-for-profit organizations that professionally present arts festivals or performing arts series, as well as their support organizations. The Canada Arts Presentation Fund also supports emerging presenters and presenter support organizations whose activities target underserved communities or artistic practices. The goal is to allow Canadians from all regions of the country to engage in and value a variety of professional artistic experiences. This Sub-Program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Grants under the Canada Arts Presentation Fund and Contributions under the Canada Arts Presentation Fund.

In 2015–16, the Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF) achieved its expected results by providing funding support to encourage recipients in providing program variety and interaction between artists and citizens, as well as the presentation of challenging and innovative artistic experiences in Canada. These results, which are consistent with the past years, reflect the CAPF's goal of funding recipients to present a wide range of artistic performances reflecting Canada's cultural and regional diversity, to reach underserved communities, and to encourage Canadians to engage and participate in artistic experiences.
Organizations supported by the CAPF presented a variety of disciplines: music (71% of all supported organizations presented music as part of their activities); dance (39%); theatre (45%); visual arts (10%); literature (12%); and media arts 8%) in 259 communities across the country. These results are consistent with those achieved in previous years.
The percentages of supported organizations that reached out to underserved communities in 2015–16 were: 19% to ethnocultural communities, 49% to young audiences, 13% to Aboriginal communities, and 28% to official language minority communities; this is consistent with the results achieved in 2014–15.
The following examples illustrate results achieved by organizations and activities funded by the CAPF in 2015–16:

• Festival de musique émergente (Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec)
  The Festival de musique émergente, organized by Collectif 08, is an annual event offering 4 days of concerts by emerging musical artists. The Festival's mission is to contribute to the dynamism of the region by encouraging the dissemination and exchange of emerging music. More than 70 performances by approximately 60 artists and groups from across Quebec and Canada were presented at the 13th edition of the Festival in 2015 in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The average annual attendance for the event is 25,000. The CAPF contributed $50,000 to the Festival in 2015–16.
• Aboriginal Music Week (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
  Aboriginal Music Week, organized by Aboriginal Music Manitoba, offers a broad range of musical genres presented in a number of venues in Winnipeg each August. In 2015, the programming included 10 music presentations featuring 25 Canadian and international Aboriginal artists, as well as six free outreach concerts, youth-focused concerts and three days of music workshops for the general public. The annual attendance for this event is approximately 5,000. The CAPF awarded $35,000 to the organization in 2015–16.

In addition to ongoing activities, such as posting current guidelines on the website and guiding applicants by phone, email and site visits, the CAPF also engages with program stakeholders throughout the year by attending relevant conferences and showcasing events; and by holding meetings with representatives from the arts presentation community.

The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund seeks to improve the physical conditions for the arts and heritage related to creation, presentation, preservation and exhibition. The fund also aims to increase and improve access for Canadians to performing arts, visual arts, media arts, and to museum collections and heritage exhibitions. To achieve these objectives, the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund provides financial assistance in the form of grants and contributions for infrastructure projects for professional, not-for-profit arts and heritage organizations, as well as municipal and provincial governments and agencies with a mandate for arts and heritage, and equivalent Indigenous peoples' organizations. The goal is to provide Canadians in all regions, including underserved communities, with access to new or improved arts and heritage spaces in their communities for creation, presentation, preservation and exhibition. This Sub-Program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Grants under the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund and Contributions under the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.

In 2015–16, the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) helped to further the Department’s goal of improving physical conditions for arts and heritage organizations across the country.
The number and types of applications submitted to the program can fluctuate significantly from year to year. As a result, program results can vary also.
In 2015–16, for example, the CCSF exceeded both its targets:

• The CCSF supported 106 new or improved arts and heritage facilities, 32.5% above the set target of 80. This number represents an increase of 45% compared to the previous year's result of 73 facilities and an increase of 27.7% compared to 2013–14 results of 83.
• Fifty-six per cent of CCSF-funded projects in 2015–16 targeted underserved communities, exceeding the target of 40%. This compares with 66% in 2014–15, and 55% in 2013–14.

The Canada Arts Training Fund contributes to the development of Canadian creators and future cultural leaders of the Canadian arts sector by supporting the training of artists with high potential through institutions that offer training of the highest calibre. It provides financial assistance to Canadian not-for-profit institutions that specialize in delivering focused, intensive and practice-based arts studies. These schools offer professional training at the highest level in disciplines such as dance, theatre, circus arts, visual arts and music (opera, orchestral), etc. It also provides financial support to training in Indigenous and ethnocultural artistic practices. Canadians and the world benefit from high-quality artistic achievements by Canadian artists trained in Canada at institutions funded through the Fund. This Sub-Program uses funding from the following transfer payment: Contributions under the Canada Arts Training Fund.

In 2015–16, the Canada Arts Training Fund (CATF) helped to further the Department’s goal of training artists with high potential through the delivery of 38 contributions, supporting Canada’s top arts training schools specializing in a wide variety of artistic disciplines.
The 2014–15 annual survey of recipients (most recent data available) found that 80% of graduates are working professionally in their field in Canada or abroad, which surpassed the target of 75% and follows the trend of previous years (e.g.: 80% in 2013–14 and 2012–13 and 82% in 2011–12). This success rate is representative of the high quality of training offered by CATF recipients – pre‑eminent institutions of proven national significance.
Furthermore, graduates are recognized for their excellence through awards, nominations, and professional and community activities as illustrated by the following example:

• Based in downtown Toronto, the School of Toronto Dance Theatre has been delivering training in contemporary dance for over 45 years. This year, the School reported that seven graduates had recently won Dora Mavor Moore Awards in Dance and Theatre: Danielle Baskerville, Jennifer Dahl, Graham McKelvie, Mariana Medellin-Meinke, Naoko Murakoshi, Brodie Stevenson, and Brendan Wyatt.

Ninety-one percent of employers rated graduates of CATF funded institutions as being well prepared for professional careers, surpassing the target set at 70%. Effective in 2016–17, this target will be raised to 80%. This attests to the high quality of the training provided by the funded institutions that foster excellence in the arts.

The Canada Cultural Investment Fund helps arts and heritage organizations build and diversify their revenue streams, improve their business practices, and assists them in being better rooted and recognized in their communities. This is achieved through three components. The Endowment Incentives component provides grants to match private sector funds raised on behalf of professional, not-for-profit arts organizations. The Strategic Initiatives component provides financial assistance to projects that strengthen business practices of multiple partner organizations. The Limited Support to Endangered Arts Organizations is a rarely used component which allows the federal government to partner with other levels of government and the private sector to help an arts organization move from near bankruptcy to sustainability if they have an appropriate business strategy. This Sub-Program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Grants under the Canada Cultural Investment Fund and Contributions under the Canada Cultural Investment Fund.

In 2015–16, the Strategic Initiatives component of the Canada Cultural Investment Fund (CCIF) achieved its expected results by funding projects that developed on average 28 tools to strengthen the business practices of arts and heritage organizations (target set was 6). As it was being renewed in 2014–15, the Strategic Initiatives component had not had any call for proposals for 18 months prior to its relaunch in May 2015. Because more than 75% of the 14 projects approved in 2015­–16 were of national or provincial scope, this led to an unusually large number of tools being created for the benefit of numerous arts and heritage organizations.
In 2015–16, as $17.7 million was disbursed to the endowment funds of 98 unique arts organizations, which is less than in previous years (target set was $20 million). In two of the three most recent years, the Endowment Incentives component has been over-subscribed and able to match private sector donations on a ratio basis. In 2015–16, the component matched dollar for dollar for each donation by the private sector. The private sector donation decrease could be attributed to a variety of factors including the economic environment and the fact that seven large arts organizations have now benefitted from $10 million and may only request up to $1 million per year to a maximum total benefit to their endowment funds of $15 million.

Of the private sector donations to benefit arts organizations, more than half (51%) or $9.1 million was donated by individuals, $3.2 million (18%) from non-government foundations, $2.8 million (16%) from beneficiary arts organizations own private funds, while corporations and other supporter groups and special events donated $1.9 million (11%) and $700 thousand (4%) respectively. Since its inception in 2001, the Endowment Incentives component has contributed $212 million to the long-term financial health of 202 arts organizations, leveraging $276 million in donations from the private sector for a total combined investment of $488 million in arts organizations' endowment funds across Canada.

The following example illustrates results achieved by organizations and activities funded by the Strategic Initiatives component in 2015–16:

The Canada Media Fund is funded by the Government of Canada and the cable, satellite distributors and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). It supports the creation of digital content across multiple platforms such as television, wireless devices or the Internet. The Canada Media Fund focuses investments on the creation of content Canadians want, and harnesses the opportunities provided by new technologies to deliver content to Canadians where and when they want it. Organizations supported by the Canada Media Fund include, but are not limited to, Canadian television and digital media production companies. Canadians as consumers of convergent programs and creators of leading-edge content and applications represent the ultimate target group. Indigenous communities, official language minority communities and other diverse language groups are also targeted by specific production funding envelopes. This Sub-Program uses funding from the following transfer payment: Contributions under the Canada Media Fund.

According to data from 2014–15,* the Canada Media Fund (CMF) exceeded its target for the number of projects funded through its two funding streams. Through the Experimental Stream, which encourages the development of innovative digital media content and software applications, the CMF funded a total of 108 projects compared to 83 projects in 2013–14. This is an increase of 30% and 80% above the target of 60 projects. This result demonstrates an increase in the number of projects supported by the Experimental Stream and demand for support to create innovative and interactive digital media content as well as software applications.

Results for the Convergent Stream, which supports the creation of high quality Canadian television programs and value-added digital convergent content available on at least one other platform, reported 2,148 million hours tuned in for CMF-supported English-language television productions in 2014–15 (target set was 1,660), an increase of 4.8% from the 2,049 million hours tuned in in 2013–14. It also reported 1,314 million hours tuned in for CMF-supported French-language television productions for the same period (target set was 990), compared to the 1,292 million hours in 2013–14, an increase of 1.7%. These results demonstrate that CMF-supported productions continue to be successful with Canadian audiences.

An evaluation covering the period from 2010–11 to 2013–14 (approved July, 2015) revealed that the program is the most important source of funding for Canadian digital content in under-represented genres (drama, documentaries, broadcasts for children and youth, variety shows and performing arts). The report found that the CMF continues to be the best tool for the government to support Canadian television and digital content but that it operates in a complex ecosystem of Canadian media. The evaluation recommends that Canadian Heritage continue working closely with the CMF to encourage them in the implementation of their recommendations.

The next evaluation is planned for completion in 2020–21.

The Canada Music Fund supports the activities of Canadian music creators, artists and entrepreneurs aimed at increasing the creation of and access to a diversity of Canadian music for audiences everywhere by enhancing the sector's ability to compete in domestic and international markets. This support is delivered through the following components: 1) Music Entrepreneur, which provides funding to Canadian music entrepreneurs as well as not-for-profit national service organizations in support of the creation, publishing, production, distribution or marketing of Canadian music, including touring related activities; 2) New Musical Works, which provides funding to Canadian music artists and entrepreneurs for the creation, publishing, production, distribution or marketing of Canadian music, including touring related activities, music showcases and business development activities; 3) Collective Initiatives, which provides funding to Canadian not-for-profit organizations as well as music entrepreneurs in support of a diverse range of collective activities aiming to enhance the visibility and accessibility of Canadian music; and 4) Canadian Music Memories, which provides funding for the preservation of Canada's musical heritage for future generations. This Sub-Program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Grants under the Canada Music Fund and Contributions under the Canada Music Fund.

In 2015–16, the Canada Music Fund (CMF) helped to further the Department’s goal of supporting the creation and dissemination of Canadian cultural content through:

• contributions to 20 Canadian sound recording firms, 15 Canadian music publishing firms and 4 Canadian music industry associations through the Music Entrepreneur Component (MEC);
• four contributions to two third-party administrators (FACTOR for the English-language market and Musicaction for the French-language market) for the delivery of the New Musical Works (NMW) and Collective Initiatives components; and
• a Memorandum of Understanding with Library and Archives Canada to carry out activities related to the preservation of Canada’s musical heritage as part of the Canadian Music Memories component.

In 2015–16, the CMF provided album production support which resulted in 546 albums, produced and released by MEC recipients (143 albums released in the previous year) or by NMW recipients (403 production projects approved in 2015–16). This represents an increase of almost 18% compared to the average number of recordings supported in the previous four years (464).The albums spanned a variety of genres, such as rock (30%), roots & folk (17%), pop (14%), urban & worldbeat (9%), classical (7%), jazz (6%) and country (6%).

NMW supported 122 production projects by French-language artists and 281 by English-language artists. For MEC supported productions, 34 were French-language, 79 English-language and 30 were instrumental or in other languages.

In 2015–16, NMW also helped Canadian artists connect with audiences at home and abroad by providing marketing, touring and showcasing support to nearly 2,100 projects. Furthermore, close to 300 projects were funded through the Collective Initiatives component. This includes 61 projects to showcase hundreds of Canadian artists to international audiences and talent buyers, and 22 digital marketing initiatives.

In 2015, 23.8% of sales generated by the top 2,000 albums in Canada were by Canadian artists. While this is up from 16% when the CMF launched in 2001, it is lower than the record share of 27.5% attained in 2011. The domestic market share of albums by CMF-supported artists was 13.4% in 2015, 4.6 points under the target of 18% and slightly higher than the 12.9% share in 2014. Sales of recordings by Canadian artists released by MEC recipients are used to measure the CMF's international performance. The international sales for MEC-supported music reached 0.4 million units. These results did not meet the set target of 1 million, due in large part to increasing international competition and global consumption patterns rapidly shifting from purchasing to streaming of music.

Indeed, streaming continues to establish itself as the next generation of digital music consumption and CMF recipients are at the forefront of this transformation. 2015–16 MEC recipients reported over 359 million streams of Canadian music, a 75% increase over the previous year and 188% more than two years ago. While digital downloads (not counting streaming) continue to account for 46% of unit sales of 2015–16 MEC recipients, there are 25% less sales of digital albums, but 27% more digital singles sales. Sales of physical albums by Canadian artists decreased by 6% over the previous year, similar to the decrease of unit sales overall (7%). 

In 2015–16, the talent of CMF-supported artists was recognized at national and international award ceremonies. For example, the CMF-supported artist The Weeknd received 7 nominations and won 5 awards at the 2016 Juno awards: Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and R&B/Soul Recording of the Year. The Weeknd was also nominated for and the recipient of several international awards such as the Grammy Awards, the Academy Awards, the Brit Awards to name a few. Of the 10 albums shortlisted for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize, which rewards the most critically acclaimed album of the year by a Canadian artist regardless of music genre or sales, seven were by artists that received CMF support at one point in their career, including Buffy Sainte-Marie, whose album Power in the Blood won the award.

When the program application guide for each funding stream is released, the Department communicates with potential and past recipients in the following ways:

• Posting the application guide and application forms on the Program website;
• Emailing organizations identified as potential applicants notifying them that application documents are available;
• Emailing professional associations for which members are targeted by the transfer payment program notifying them that application documents are available;
• Emailing third party administrators of the Canada Music Fund so that they can post on their websites that the application forms are available;
• Sending reminder emails shortly in advance of the funding application deadline.

The Department also engages with program stakeholders throughout the year in the following ways:

• Guiding applicants by phone and email (including toll-free phone number and program e-mail address available to applicants and recipients);
• Attending industry conferences and holding meetings with industry representatives.

The Canada Book Fund supports the activities of Canadian book publishers and other sectors of the book industry to ensure access to a broad range of Canadian-authored books. This support is delivered through the following streams of funding: 1) Support for Publishers, which provides funding distributed primarily through a formula that rewards success in delivering content that Canadians value. This funding contributes to the ongoing production and marketing of Canadian-authored books by offsetting the high costs of publishing in Canada and building the capacity and competitiveness of the sector; 2) Support for Organizations, which provides funding to develop the Canadian book industry and the market for its products by assisting industry associations and related organizations to undertake collective projects offering broad benefits to the industry and, ultimately, to readers everywhere. This Sub-Program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Grants under the Canada Book Fund and Contributions under the Canada Book Fund.

In 2015–16, the Canada Book Fund (CBF) supported the publication of 6,973 new Canadian-authored titles, in both physical and digital format, which is 27% above target (target set was 5,500). This result shows an increase of 8% from 6,439 in 2014–15. Of these titles, 56% were published in French (59% in 2014–15), 41% were published in English (39% in 2014–15) and 3% in both official languages or in another language (2% in 2014–15), representing only slight variations of one to three percent from 2014–15. With respect to genre, 82% were trade titles (70% in 2014–15), 11% were educational titles (22% in 2014–15) and 7% were scholarly titles (8% in 2014–15).

The $373 million in sales of Canadian-authored books ($278 million in Canada and $95 million more abroad) by CBF recipients was below target by 12% (target set was $425 million), but constituted an increase from last year's figure of $367 million (over $280 million in Canada and $85 million more abroad). The decline in sales over the last few years may be attributed to decreasing domestic book prices and the weak global economy among other possible factors.

These results are consistent with overall trends in the past years; targets for both expected results were adjusted for 2016–17.

CBF recipients continued to receive recognition for the quality and excellence of their books. In 2015–16, 10 of the 14 winning titles of the Governor General's Literary Awards were published by CBF recipients.

Funding from the CBF helped around 300 businesses and not-for-profit organizations in the Canadian book industry to undertake initiatives in publishing, marketing, professional development, technology-driven collective projects and other areas in support of departmental objectives.

The CBF continued to support a broad range of industry activities across the country, including the work of 251 Canadian-owned publishers, in more than 80 Canadian towns and cities, which directly employ close to 2,500 Canadians. Publishers supported by the CBF realized an aggregate profit margin of 0.55% down from 5.5% in 2014–15. This decrease is attributed to two large publishers that had extraordinary depreciation expenses in

When the program application guide for each funding stream is released, the Department communicates with potential and past recipients in the following ways:

• Posting application information on the program website.
• Emailing organizations identified as potential applicants notifying them that application documents are available and underlining key program changes.
• Sending reminder e-mails shortly in advance of the funding application deadline.

The Department also engages with applicants and recipients throughout the year in the following ways:

• Guiding applicants by phone and e-mail (including toll-free phone number and program e-mail address available to program stakeholders).
• Emailing the directorate newsletter at least once a year.
• Holding annual stakeholder consultations and other meetings with applicants and recipients.
• Attending industry events to improve the visibility and understanding of the program.

The Canada Periodical Fund supports the activities of Canadian magazine and non-daily newspaper publishers and organizations to ensure that Canadians have access to diverse Canadian magazines and non-daily newspapers. The Fund is delivered through the following components: 1) Aid to Publishers, which provides formula funding to Canadian print magazines and non-daily newspapers for publishing activities, such as distribution, content creation, online activities and business development; 2) Business Innovation, which provides funding to print magazines and digital periodicals for business development and innovation projects; and 3) Collective Initiatives, which provides funding to Canadian magazines and non-daily newspaper organizations for industry-wide projects to increase the overall sustainability of the Canadian magazine and non-daily newspaper industries. This Sub-Program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Grants under the Canada Periodical Fund and Contributions under the Canada Periodical Fund.

In 2015–16, the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) supported the publication of 811 individual print and digital periodicals across Canada. This is 4.6% under target (target set was 850) and represents a decrease of 1.8% from the previous year in which 826 titles were supported. While the number of titles supported has declined, diversity of titles supported has remained relatively stable with 56 ethno-cultural, 31 official language minority and 14 Aboriginal publications supported. In addition, the CPF supported content in a variety of different languages: 70.7% were published in English, 19.5% in French, and the remainder in both English and French or in other languages.

Periodicals funded by the CPF continued to help provide Canadian readers with access to a wide variety of Canadian magazines and non-daily newspapers with over 190 million print copies distributed in 2015–16, short of the target by 24% (target set was 250 million copies) and representing a 5.9% decline since 2014–15 when 202 million copies were distributed. These results are consistent with overall declines in the magazine and newspaper industries, and targets for both expected results were adjusted for 2016–17 to reflect the realities of the changing industry.

Also, recipients of the Aid to Publishers component of the CPF published 786 print periodicals, of which 399 were magazines and 387 were non-daily newspapers. The majority of periodicals were published in English (560), while 153 were in French, 22 were in both official languages and the rest (51) were in other languages. The recipients spanned a variety of groups, including ethnocultural publications (52), official-language minority publications (29) and Aboriginal publications (14).

In 2015–16, the Canadian magazine and newspaper industries continued to face strong competition from digital alternatives to print periodicals. While the number of titles has been stable, overall revenues have decreased and the business environment remains challenging. Following the 2015–16 evaluation of the CPF, the program conducted industry outreach activities and increased support for the development of innovative business models. As a result, the number of innovative projects has increased from 28 to 50 and the number of digital-only projects has increased from 7 to 13. The program will continue to review its components within the context of current and anticipated industry conditions.

An evaluation of the CPF covering the period from 2010–11 to 2014–15 (approved June 2015), emphasizes that the program remains relevant; is well-aligned with government priorities and has achieved the expected outcomes. In order to ensure the ongoing relevance of the CPF in an environment where the Canadian periodical industry and technologies are changing, a review of certain aspects of the program was recommended, specifically the eligibility criteria and the formula-funding approach, taking the digital aspect into account as well as the process for increasing administrative efficiency. The program should also enhance engagement with stakeholders to continue addressing the industry’s changing needs.

When the program application guide for each funding stream is released, the Department communicates with potential and past recipients in the following ways:

• Posting the application guide and application forms on the program website;
• Emailing recent recipients and organizations identified as potential applicants, notifying them that application documents are available;
• Sending reminder emails shortly in advance of the funding application deadline;
• Engaging with industry organizations so that they publicize program information to their members.

The Department also engages with program stakeholders throughout the year in the following ways:

• Guiding applicants by phone and email (including toll-free phone number and program e-mail address available to applicants and recipients);
• Holding informal meetings with various stakeholders to explain how the CPF works and to listen to issues and concerns;
• Attending various industry events to improve the visibility and understanding of the program;
• Updating the CPF website with news and program information.

TV5 supports the international TV5 partnership with France, Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Switzerland, Québec and Canada. TV5 enables Canadian productions to be presented around the world through TV5MONDE. Moreover, through TV5 Québec Canada, it provides Canadians with access to a rich diversity of programming from the international Francophonie. This Sub-Program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Grant to TV5MONDE and Contribution to TV5 Québec Canada.

In 2015–16, the percentage of Canadian content on TV5MONDE surpassed its target of 7%, reaching an average of 9.72%, slightly down from the 10.7% reached in 2014–15. The percentage of Canadian content broadcasted on TV5MONDE has stabilized from the growth experienced between 2012–13 and 2014–15 (from 9.5% to 10.7% in 2014–15).

In March 2016, the TV5 Québec Canada had reached 10.3 million households in Canada, an increase of 100,000 compared to the 10.2 million reached in March 2015 and exceeding the target of 6.9 million Canadian households. Effective in 2016–17, this target will be raised from 6.9 million to 9 million. TV5 Québec Canada has also maintained its market share (data available in Quebec only) with 1.5% of total viewing. TV5MONDE’s reach increased from 251 million households in 2014 to 291 million households in 2015.

The Museums Assistance Program (MAP) supports heritage institutions and workers in the preservation and presentation of heritage collections. MAP provides financial assistance to Canadian museums and related institutions for activities that facilitate Canadians’ access to our heritage, foster the preservation of Canada’s cultural heritage, including the preservation of representative collections of Aboriginal cultural heritage, and foster professional knowledge, skills and practices related to key museum functions. In support of the Youth Employment Strategy, MAP helps heritage organizations to create summer employment and internship opportunities for Canadian youth through the heritage components of Young Canada Works Program. MAP also provides grants through the Movable Cultural Property Program to assist designated organizations to acquire cultural property threatened with export or available on international markets. This Program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Grants under the MAP and Contributions under the MAP.

The following are highlights of the results achieved in 2015–16 by the Museums Assistance Program’s three funding streams: (1) the Museums Assistance Program (MAP), (2) Young Canada Works - Heritage, and (3) Movable Cultural Property Grants:

Over 2,520 individuals attended 197 professional learning opportunities funded by the MAP. Of those who responded to the participant survey, 76% reported improvement in their knowledge, skills and practices related to key museum functions.

Furthermore, over 1,620 young Canadians gained professional experience in museums and related organizations through summer jobs and internships funded by Young Canada Works - Heritage.

The MAP supported the preservation of more than 103,500 heritage objects through MAP and Movable Cultural Property Grants, 14% more than last year. This support was primarily achieved through the funding of collections storage solutions and information management systems. Of the institutions that received MAP funding to support a storage solutions project, 95% indicated improvement in the preservation of their collections. Of the institutions that received MAP funding to support a collections management systems project, 95% indicated improvement in the preservation of their collections. The targets for the Museum Assistance Program’s first two performance indicators were exceeded by 15% and 20% respectively.
Over 1 million visitors attended travelling exhibitions supported by the MAP. This is an increase of 101% from the previous year.

The MAP supported 113 venues to present exhibitions, which surpasses the target by 26%. The exhibitions were accompanied by 2,073 public programming activities and 263 public programming products.

An evaluation of the MAP covering the period from 2008–2009 to 2012–2013 (approved December 2015) found that the program remains an essential support tool for museum and heritage institution activities and has made progress toward achieving its immediate, intermediate and ultimate outcomes. In view of optimizing the allocated funds, it was recommended that an environmental scan be undertaken to ensure that MAP priorities and the challenges in the museum community are aligned. The program should also study the options for increasing its efficiency through the enhancement of its delivery model with regard to expectations, potential reductions in administrative costs and funding decision timelines. The next evaluation is planned for completion in 2020–21.

Updated information for the MAP, Young Canada Works-Heritage Programs and Movable Cultural Property Grants is available on the Department’s website. When additional communication activities are required, the national office delivers messages through the regional offices, delivery organizations, professional associations, etc. for dissemination to targeted organizations, or directly to applicants and recipients. Department representatives also promote heritage programs by participating in national and provincial museums associations’ conferences and meetings. Every five years, recipients and stakeholders are invited to contribute to program evaluation exercises.

The Celebration and Commemoration Program provides funding through grants and contributions to non-governmental and community organizations for community based activities organized during the Celebrate Canada period, from June 21 to July 1. These activities celebrate National Aboriginal Day on June 21, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day on June 24, Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27 and Canada Day on July 1. Funding is also available for commemorations with a national scope that commemorate and celebrate nationally significant historical figures, places, events, and accomplishments. The activities that are funded build pride, promote participation in celebrations and commemorations and strengthen understanding of shared history. This Program uses funding from the following transfer payment: Grants in support of the Celebration and Commemoration Program and Contributions in support of the Celebration and Commemoration Program.

Participation rates in 2015–16 for the Celebrate Canada period and commemoration events were much higher than the previous year as the Program received incremental funding to support commemorations for priority milestone events on The Road to 2017. In total more than 10 million people participated. This represents an increase of over 10% when compared to the participation figures from last year.

Celebrate Canada funded 1,658 projects in 2015–16, providing close to 7 million Canadians in every province and territory with the opportunity to participate in 1,815 community events that celebrated one or more of the following days in the period from June 21 through July 1: National Aboriginal Day, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, Multiculturalism Day and Canada Day. These community events were open to the public and free of charge. While the number of community events remained steady in 2015–16, participation rates in these events declined slightly from 2014–15.

Celebrate Canada also supports the Canada Day Challenge, one of the largest and most recognized arts, photography and creative writing competitions for young Canadians. The 2015 Challenge received 2,776 entries from youth aged 8 to 18, who submitted original poster designs, digital photographs, and pieces of creative writing to express what Canada means to them. Nine finalists, including three national winners, received a grand prize trip to Ottawa to participate in Canada Day activities on Parliament Hill. In addition, the group attended a two day workshop delivered by the National Film Board which inspired them to create short films documenting their visit to Ottawa. The winning Canada Day Challenge entries were exhibited at the Canadian Museum of History from June to September 2015.

Participation rates for the Canada Day Challenge were higher than the previous year as the Program expanded its social media outreach via the hashtag #CanadaDayChallenge and engaged Lieutenant Governors and Territorial Commissioners to enhance promotion of the contest in their jurisdictions.

To build momentum toward Canada 150 and set the stage for extraordinary celebrations in 2017, Commemorate Canada provided opportunities to mark anniversaries of nationally significant historical events and figures that have connected and defined us as Canadians. Recognizing and celebrating Canada’s outstanding persons, places and events is an essential component of sharing Canada’s stories and fostering a sense of pride and belonging to Canada. Statistics Canada’s 2013 General Social Survey on Canadian Identity showed that a majority (70%) of Canadians were proud or very proud of Canadian history.

For example, the Program continued to fund projects for the bicentennial of the birth of Sir John A. Macdonald, such as an educational campaign and student contest organized by Historica Canada that reached over 60,000 educators and close to 2 million students, a walking tour in Toronto and a year-long celebration in the city of Kingston. To mark the 50th anniversary of the National Flag of Canada, the Program supported a unique interactive program to raise awareness of the flag’s history which culminated in over 25,000 children from 82 schools in 40 cities across Canada participating in the largest-ever recording of students singing the national anthem. The Program also provided funding for a travelling exhibit to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the issuance of the Magna Carta. From June to December 2015, close to 70,000 Canadians in Ottawa, Edmonton, Toronto and Winnipeg had the opportunity to view the original copy of the Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forest.

The Program also funded activities for the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s visit to Huronia, including projects that celebrated 400 years of the French presence in Ontario such as education resources, interactive videos and the #FindYourChamplain contest, which reached over 500,000 Canadians.

Between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016, the Department of Canadian Heritage managed the World War Commemorations Community Fund for national and community-based commemorative and educational projects. This year-long initiative fostered a greater awareness and understanding among Canadians of the importance of the world wars in the evolution of Canada.

Canadian Heritage continued to collaborate with other government organizations to deliver high-profile events, such as working with the Royal Canadian Mint, Canada Post, and the National Film Board of Canada to mark the 100th anniversary of the writing of In Flanders Fields by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae and the centennial of the Second Battle of Ypres.

The Department of Canadian Heritage works in collaboration with the Interdepartmental Commemorations Committee (ICC) to coordinate the Government of Canada’s approach to planning national commemorations. The ICC and related working groups met several times in 2015–16, bringing together representatives from 28 federal organizations to identify nationally significant historical milestones and to share information on commemoration activities.

In summer 2015 Canada hosted the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games in Toronto, and the Federal Cultural Strategy (FCS) extended the spirit of the games beyond sport venues with cultural and artistic offerings, Torch Relays, and community activities.

Through the FCS, free daily music, dance, artistic performances and more were held the Games’ main celebration site (Nathan Phillips Square) and two other important sites (Dundas Square and Fort York National Historic Site). Over the course of both Games, these sites featured hundreds of performing artists who entertained more than 575,000 attendees, well over the original attendance targets of 471,000.

The forty-day Pan Am Games’ Torch Relay involved 3,000 torchbearers who brought the Torch to 130 communities across Ontario and 5 cities outside of Ontario. The five-day Parapan Am Games’ Torch Relay involved 150 torchbearers and the routes included 13 main celebrations.

According to Vision Critical Survey research conducted in August 2015, 1 million people in Ontario and 500,000 people outside of Ontario participated in, attended or watched the Pan Am Torch Relay celebrations.

An evaluation of the Celebration and Commemoration Program is currently underway (begun in April 2016).  Expected end date: September 2017 (2017-2018).

An evaluation of the one-time commemoration of the War of 1812 bicentennial was completed in 2015–2016, covering the period from 2011-2012 to 2013-2014. Management of the fund for the initiative was provided by the Celebration and Commemoration office. This purpose of this initiative was to deepen Canadians’ knowledge about this chapter of our history and to strengthen Canadian identity. The evaluation found that the immediate outcomes were achieved overall and the funds were managed effectively and efficiently. Best practices and lessons learned are documented and could inspire the planning of future major initiatives. The evaluation also recommended development of options for maintaining effective and efficient management of multi-year celebrations and commemorations.

The Exchanges Canada Program provides grants and contributions in support of youth participation initiatives that allow young Canadians to learn about Canada, create linkages with each other and better appreciate the diversity and shared aspects of the Canadian experience. The Program supports not-for-profit organizations to provide Canadian youth with a range of exchange and forum activities to strengthen their sense of belonging to Canada and therefore their sense of Canadian identity. The Program has two components: Youth Exchanges Canada (YEC) and Youth Forums Canada (YFC). YEC funds reciprocal homestay exchanges for youth, and also includes the Summer Work / Student Exchange sub-component, which provides summer job opportunities for 16 and 17-year-olds in their second official language. YFC enables young Canadians to connect with one another through forums, study sessions and workshops on a range of relevant topics. This Program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Grants in support of Innovative Youth Exchange Projects and Contributions in support of the Exchanges Canada Initiative.

The Exchanges Canada Program offered opportunities for over 12,600 youth to enhance their knowledge and understanding of Canada; to create linkages with one another; and to enhance their appreciation of the diversity and shared aspects of the Canadian experience. Through their participation in forums and group exchanges, youth had opportunities to learn about Canada, its history, geography, industry, institutions, communities, cultures, and languages, and to connect with other youth. As a result of their participation in the Program, 84% agreed that they learned new things about Canada, 92% of youth reported that they created new ties with people from other communities, 85% reported having a better understanding of what Canadians have in common, 89% of youth participants reported that they enhanced their appreciation of how diverse Canada is, and 83% reported an increased sense of attachment to Canada. The expected results are in line with the established targets and comparable to 2013–14, with an increase in sense of attachment.*
Support was provided to youth exchanges and forums in 2015–16 through 18 single- and multi-year contribution agreements with not-for-profit organizations.

The Exchanges Canada Program contributed to the organizational priority of Celebrating our History and Heritage by supporting activities that allowed Canadian youth to learn about and experience Canada, including its rich history.  Some of the learning opportunities included workshops, activities and visits related but not limited to the centennial of women’s suffrage (2016), the Canadian Arctic Expedition (1913–18) and Canada’s upcoming 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.

*The statistics provided are from the most recent data available, which are the 2014–15 participant survey results: results from participant surveys for a specific fiscal year are only made available the following fiscal year.

The evaluation for the period from 2009–10 to 2013–14 (approved January 2016) concludes that the program remains relevant and that the objectives and expected results of the program are consistent with federal priorities and the strategic outcomes of PCH. The ECP design, which is based on offering youth a physical exchange experience, contributed to achieving program outcomes. In terms of continuous program improvements, the evaluation recommended improvements to efficiency and the timeliness of the notification of the funding decision by streamlining the application and approval processes; to performance measurement by improving the post-participation youth surveys and the use of outcome data; and to outcomes by improving representation of target groups and certain provinces and territories by working with funded organizations to identify barriers and approaches to attract participation of target groups.

The next evaluation is planned for completion in 2020–21.

The Exchanges Canada Program sends an invitation letter annually to prospective applicants to submit a funding application to the Youth Forums Canada component of the Exchanges Canada Program. In 2015–16, an invitation letter was also sent to Youth Exchanges Canada’s prospective applicants. The Exchanges Canada Program works with recipients to ensure that all youth participants receive a message from the Minister congratulating them on their participation in funded projects.

The Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program (BCAH) provides grants and contributions in support of local festivals, community anniversaries and capital projects. Funding is made available to stakeholders presenting arts and heritage festivals and events that emphasize local engagement. Its objective is to engage citizens in their communities through performing and visual arts as well as through the expression, celebration and preservation of local historical heritage. The Program has three components: 1) Local Festivals supports recurring festivals that involve the whole community and give opportunities to local artists and artisans to engage in their communities and/or celebrate local history and heritage; 2) Community Anniversaries supports one-time commemorations through activities that celebrate a major anniversary (100 years and then increments of 25 years) of a significant local person or event; and 3) Legacy Fund supports tangible, lasting capital projects that commemorate or celebrate a major anniversary (100 years and then increments of 25 years) of a significant local person or event. This Sub-Program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Grants in support of the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage Sub-Program and Contributions in support of the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Sub-Program.

The Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage (BCAH) Program encouraged citizens across the country to connect with one another and engage in their local communities through performing and visual arts, as well as through the expression, celebration, and preservation of local historical heritage. The Program carried out the administration of grants and contributions to local festivals, community anniversaries and community capital projects.

BCAH provided funding to 762 projects, which included 712 local festivals, 34 community anniversaries and 16 commemorative capital projects in 466 communities across the country. Based on a recipient response rate of 88%, funded projects provided opportunities for an average of 142 local artists, artisans and heritage performers per project to engage in their communities. Recipients also reported the involvement of an average 172 volunteers per project. Thus, BCAH funding enabled Canadians to share and celebrate the stories of their communities, through the expression and celebration and the preservation of local arts and heritage.*

In 2015–16, BCAH supported projects that commemorated the 75th anniversary of locally significant events related to the Canadian participation in the Second World War. For example, the Legacy Fund supported a project in Ajax, Ontario, to commemorate the opening of the munitions plant operated by Defence Industries Limited in February 1941 and to honour all the women employed there and across Canada. Also, the Legacy Fund component supported the memorial sculpture in New Westminster, British Columbia, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the photograph by C.P. Pettloff, “Wait for me Daddy”, depicting the departure of the British Columbia Regiment on October 1, 1940.

The Aboriginal Peoples’ Program (APP) focuses primarily on strengthening cultural identity, encouraging the full participation of Indigenous peoples in Canadian life, and supporting the continuation of Indigenous cultures and languages as living elements of Canadian society. APP programming incorporates Indigenous cultures and languages into community-driven activities designed to strengthen cultural identity. The APP provides investments that help to support the efforts of Indigenous communities to develop and deliver innovative and culturally appropriate projects, under initiatives such as the Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ALI), Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting (NAB), Scholarships and Youth Initiatives (SYI), Territorial Language Accords (TLA), National Aboriginal Day (NAD), and the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards (NAAA). This Sub-Program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Grants in support of the Aboriginal Peoples’ Sub-Program and Contributions in support of the Aboriginal Peoples’ Sub-Program.

The Aboriginal Peoples’ Program (APP) continued to invest in core activities designed to strengthen Indigenous cultural identity and participation in Canadian society, and to revitalize and preserve Indigenous languages and cultures. The Program provided investments to Indigenous peoples and communities for projects that encourage Indigenous individuals and groups to engage in community-driven activities and incorporate Indigenous cultures and languages.

In 2014–15, the APP (ALI component) supported the direct participation of 3,922 people in Indigenous language activities, which was above the target and the previous year (2,935). This increase can be attributed to a greater proportion of participatory projects (e.g. culture camps and language lessons) in 2014–15 compared to projects towards the development of language resources and products.

In 2015–16, the APP exceeded its project target, providing funding to 111 projects that incorporated Indigenous languages, Indigenous cultures, and supported community engagement.  This decrease in the result in 2014–15 (153) is mostly due to the transfer of a component to another federal department. 
2015–16 initiatives were:

Scholarships and Youth Initiatives / National Aboriginal Achievement Awards: Through an agreement, Indspire was funded to: support post-secondary scholarships for Indigenous students, to reach high school students by holding Indigenous Youth Career Conferences (2) in London, Ontario, and one in conjunction with the Indspire Awards Gala in Vancouver, British Columbia. Additionally, Indspire produced and televised the 2016 Indspire Awards held in Vancouver, where 14 outstanding recipients were honoured. The show was broadcast on the Aboriginal Peoples’ Television Network (APTN).

Aboriginal Languages Initiative: Financial support was provided to 91 community-driven projects across Canada for the revitalization and preservation of First Nation, Métis and Inuit languages, which directly affected 3,922 participants in 2014–15.*

National Aboriginal Day: This project provided funding for the National Aboriginal Day event in the National Capital Region (June 1–21, 2015) which included celebrations, educational events for students, educators and families, and performances and events by Indigenous artists and entertainers.

Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting: Funding was provided to 15 Indigenous communication societies to: produce 42,920 hours** per year of new content for radio, of which 10,212 hours per year is the production of new content in an Indigenous language; and 51 hours per year for the production of new Indigenous television content accessible to all Canadians.

Territorial Language Accords: Through 2 agreements, funding was provided to the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Nunavut for the preservation, development and enhancement of Indigenous languages.

The APP contributed to the organizational priority of Bringing Canadians Together by supporting programming that incorporates Indigenous cultures and languages into community-driven activities with an emphasis on The Year of Sport in Canada in 2015. For example, the central theme for the National Aboriginal Day event was “Igniting our Spirit Through Culture and Sport” in recognition of The Year of Sport in Canada and Canada’s hosting of the 2015 Pan American / Parapan American Games. National Aboriginal Day celebrations showcased Indigenous artists that had been commissioned by the 2015 Pan American / Parapan American Games Organizing Committee to create new works and featured performing and visual artists from the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, Six Nations of the Grand River, Huron Wendat First Nation and the Métis Nation of Ontario. Family and educational programming innovatively incorporated Indigenous athletes, Indigenous games such as lacrosse, Métis voyageur games and Inuit arctic games as well as a family-friendly Medicine Wheel Colour Run.

* Most recent data (ALI): Given final reports are compiled once per year, the statistic provided here is from 2014–15.

An evaluation covering the period from 2009–2010 to 2013–2014 (approved March, 2016), found that the program remains relevant and is aligned with federal government priorities relating to support to Aboriginal community efforts to celebrate and preserve their languages, cultures, history and contributions as an integral part of Canadian diversity. However, the report emphasizes that the APP objectives do not align with the expected outcomes. It was therefore suggested that an action plan be developed for revising the current program; modernizing the objectives and outcomes, and improving the program’s effectiveness and efficiency.

The ALI component of the Aboriginal Peoples' Program was the subject of a separate evaluation, covering the period 2009-10 to 2013-14 (approved June 2015). The evaluation concluded that ALI remains relevant as there is a continued need to support the preservation and revitalization of Aboriginal languages. The evaluation has made progress toward achieving its outcomes. The evaluation recommendations address the feasibility of developing a language strategy with the goal of optimizing the impact of ALI funding in the longer term; exploring mechanisms to share materials, products, tools and other resources developed with ALI funding more broadly; and streamlining processes and tools to improve the timeliness of the decision to fund projects and the release of funds and to increase the transparency of the review process.

The Development of Official-Language Communities Program fosters the vitality of Canada’s English- and French-speaking minority communities and enables them to participate fully in all aspects of Canadian life. The Program has three components. Through contributions and grants to non-profit organizations, the Community Life component supports the offer of activities and services designed for official-language minority communities by community organizations in various fields, especially arts, culture and heritage as well as youth. Through intergovernmental contribution agreements, this component also supports the offer of minority-language services by provincial and territorial governments. The Minority-Language Education component supports the offer of provincial and territorial programs and activities aimed at providing education in the language of official language minority communities, at all levels of education, through intergovernmental contribution agreements. Through a contribution agreement with an independent public entity, the Language Rights Support component supports access to mechanisms to foster the advancement and clarification of constitutionally guaranteed language rights. This program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Grants to the Development of Official Language Communities Program and Contributions to the Development of Official-Language Communities Program.

• The Program continued to invest in core activities to better strengthen official-language minority communities (OLMCs) to quality education and different programs and services, in their language in their communities as well as provide support for language rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
• The Program carried on with administration of grants and contributions to non-profit organizations to provide opportunities for OLMCs to participate in activities related to arts, culture, heritage as well as youth.
• The Program continued to manage bilateral agreements with the provincial and territorial governments to offer OLMC members access to minority-language education and services in their community.
  • The OLMC members continued to have access to programs and services in their language, in their communities. In fact, 86% of OLMC members were living within 25 km of a local or regional community development organization offering minority-language services and over 89% of OLMC members were living within 25 km of an arts and culture organization offering minority-language services.
  • Negotiations are under way on intergovernmental service agreements with the governments of Quebec, the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut, and will be completed by March 2017.
• The Program continued to contribute to the organizational priority Bringing Canadians Together by supporting projects proposed by non-profit organizations and the provincial and territorial governments that have a lasting impact on the communities’ vitality and the use of the minority language.
  • Supported 613 projects with 443 community organizations and provincial and territorial governments.
  • On September 29, 2015, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador adopted a new French Language Services Policy. The policy ensures a more consistent, coordinated approach to service delivery in French and applies throughout provincial governments. The policy aims to increase administrative capacity to provide services in French.
  • The Table nationale sur l’éducation in cooperation with the Fédération nationale des conseils scolaires francophones continued the work started on the “École communautaire citoyenne” rallying project that includes all learning environments – from early childhood services to adulthood. The purpose of that project is to redefine the two-way relationship between school and community through involvement, success and continuum in education.

A grouped evaluation (Development of Official-Language Communities Program & Enhancement of Official Languages Program) is currently underway (started in August 2015). Anticipated end date of Febuary, 2017.

An evaluation of the Language Rights Support Program (LRSP) covering the period from 2009–2010 to 2013–2014 was approved in February, 2016. The LRSP is funded through the Official Languages Support Programs (OLSP) and includes three components. The evaluation found that the initiative meets a real, ongoing, current and future need regarding the promotion and protection of linguistic minorities. While recognizing that significant efforts have been made in terms of performance, it recommends consultation with the stakeholders to better target the work to enhance the impact of each of the components.

The next evaluation of the Language Right Support Program is planned for completion in 2020–21.

An evaluation of the YCW initiative covering the period from 2008–2009 to 2012–2013 (approved May, 2015) found that the initiative fulfills a genuine ongoing need and that youth as well as the employers are satisfied with the services, tools and information provided. YCW has consistently exceeded its objectives for placements but the growing demand increases the pressure on the program’s resources and their ability to meet the demands. Recommendations were made for addressing the growing demand of youth, enhancement of administrative efficiency and the application process, as well as to ensure that YCW achieves the expected outcomes.

Send call letters to client organizations and to provincial and territorial governments;
Inform client organizations on the application deadlines (Canadian Heritage website);
Offer grants and contributions to community organizations; and

The Enhancement of Official Languages Program helps Canadians gain a better understanding and appreciation of the benefits of linguistic duality, as well as awareness of the constitutionally guaranteed language rights. The Program has three components. Through contributions and grants to non-profit organizations, the Promotion of Linguistic Duality component supports activities and projects to enhance official languages and unite Canadians, enhance the French language and culture in Canada, and increase the offer of services in both official languages from non-governmental organizations. Through intergovernmental contribution agreements, the Second-Language Learning component supports the offer of provincial and territorial programs and activities related to learning English and French, as second official languages, among young Canadians. Through a contribution with an independent public entity, the Language Rights Support component supports the offer of information and awareness activities among Canadians, especially those living in official-language minority communities, of language rights and the mechanisms for exercising those rights. This program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Grants to the Enhancement of Official Languages Program and Contributions to the Enhancement of Official Languages Program.

The Program continues to help Canadians recognize and support linguistic duality as a fundamental value of Canadian society and to foster a mutual understanding and appreciation between English- and French-speaking Canadians.
Canadians continue to have a favourable opinion and an appreciation of the benefits of linguistic duality. Thus, 70% of Canadians think that having two official languages in Canada is an important part of what it means to be Canadian, a higher percentage than in 2012 (62.4%).
The Program continues to administer grants and contributions to non-profit organizations in support of initiatives that enhance official languages, unite Canadians and increase the provision of services in both official languages.
The Program supported 210 projects with 195 non-governmental organizations and provincial and territorial governments.

The Program continues to support the regular activities of two key organizations in second-language learning.

• The Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers and the Canadian Association of Immersion Teachers coordinated conferences bringing together approximately 700 teachers wishing to share their knowledge and collaborate on training activities to identify issues and, thereby, improve in-class learning tools and methods.

The Program supported two projects by the Canadian Association of Immersion Teachers.

• The first project involved pairing young teachers of French as a second language whose second language is French with Francophones to enable them to improve their language skills through cultural and community activities. That project also helped identify French-language cultural activities and resources of interest to the students in order to provide them with authentic experiences in French. This initiative was successful in a number of Canadian cities, including Calgary and Halifax in 2015–16.
• The second project involved providing forums designed for administrators of immersion programs. An expert panel developed a set of workshops and eight modules for giving administrators the knowledge, strategies, tools and coaching needed for managing immersion programs. Workshops were held in seven Canadian cities, bringing together nearly 500 participants.

The Department funded three national language learning and development programs for young Canadians.

• These official language bursary and assistant programs are administered by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada.
• The Explore programs provided 7,057 bursaries, and the Destination Clic Program provided 140 bursaries to enable young Canadians to learn or improve their second official language and enhance their first official language by learning about various communities in Canada.
• The Odyssey Program enabled more than 300 young Canadians to work as second-language monitors schools across Canada or even as French first official-language monitors in minority schools across the country.

A grouped evaluation (Development of Official-Language Communities Program & Enhancement of Official Languages Program) is currently underway (started in August 2015). Anticipated end date April 2017 (2017–18). 

An evaluation of the LRSP covering the period from 2009–2010 to 2013–2014 was completed in February 2015. The LRSP is funded through the Official Languages Support Programs (OLSP) and includes three components. The evaluation found that the initiative meets a real, ongoing, current and future need regarding the promotion and protection of linguistic minorities. While recognizing that significant efforts have been made in terms of performance, it recommends consultation with the stakeholders to better target the work to enhance the impact of each of the components.
The next evaluation of the Language Right Support Program is planned for completion in 2020–21.

An evaluation of the YCW initiative covering the period from 2008–2009 to 2012–2013 (approved May, 2015) found that the initiative fulfills a genuine ongoing need and that youth as well as the employers are satisfied with the services, tools and information provided. YCW has consistently exceeded its objectives for placements but the growing demand increases the pressure on the program’s resources and their ability to meet the demands. Recommendations were made for addressing the growing demand of youth, enhancement of administrative efficiency and the application process, as well as to ensure that YCW achieves the expected outcomes.

A horizontal evaluation of the Youth Employment Strategy which will include Young Canada Works (led by Employment and Social Development Canada) is planned for 2017–18.

Send call letters to client organizations and to provincial and territorial governments;
Inform client organizations on application deadlines (Canadian Heritage web site);
Offer grants and contributions to organizations for the promotion of linguistic duality and second-language learning; and

The Hosting Program is a key instrument in the Government of Canada’s overall approach to sport development in Canada and aims to enhance the development of sport excellence and the international profile of sport organizations by providing assistance for the hosting of the Canada Games and international sport events in Canada. The Hosting Program offers Canada-at-large a planned and coordinated approach to realizing direct and significant benefits, from bidding and hosting projects, in the areas of sport development, economic, social, cultural and community impacts, across a broad range of government priorities. This Program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Contributions for the Games’ Hosting Program.

Number of competition opportunities for Canadian athletes, coaches and officials at funded events: 8,231

Number of Canadian athletes from under-represented groups participating at funded events: 320 (Note: there are currently 57 out of 75 final reports on file, and the remaining are to be submitted through September 2016 (six months post-event)).

Number of agreements in place during the fiscal year: 75

International Single Sport Events: 71
International Major Multisport Games: 1 (Note: there was one contribution agreement for the Pan American and Parapan American Games).
International Multisport Games for Aboriginal People and Persons with a Disability: 0
Canada Games: 1
Legacy & Multiparty Agreements: 2

The Hosting Program activities in 2015–16 were highlighted by the hosting of two landmark events, the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games.

The Hosting Program provided $15 million to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 which resulted in an economic impact of $493 million. Teams from 24 countries took part in the World Cup which registered an attendance record with 1.35 million spectators. In addition, the Women’s World Cup legacy also reached out and positively impacted children and youth across Canada, including 1.4 million children taking part in Physical Health Education Canada Move, Think, Learn Program and 175 Indigenous participants in Motivate Canada’s GEN 7 Program in Rankin Inlet.

Canadian Heritage was the lead department for coordinating the Government’s involvement in the Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games. The Government of Canada invested up to $377.1 million in 27 sport venues, including 10 new facilities. The Government also invested $65 million in the Toronto 2015 Sport Legacy Fund which provides support for ongoing operations and programming in games facilities. Canadian Heritage, through the Hosting Program, supported the coordination and oversaw the delivery of federal commitments for essential federal services for the staging of the Games. Thirteen federal departments and agencies collaborated to deliver federal service commitments in four key areas: emergency preparedness; security; border security and accreditation support; and weather forecasting and environmental assessments. During the Games, Canada had 936 athletes participate, and these athletes finished with 387 total medals (217 medals at the Pan American and 168 medals at the Parapan American Games). In both Games, Canada finished 2nd in total medals and 2nd in Gold medals (78 Golds at the Pan and 50 Golds at the Parapan American Games). In addition to our athlete’s impressive performances, 22 million Canadians watched at least some of the CBC and Radio Canada coverage of the Pan American Games.

In addition to the landmark events, the Hosting Program worked with National Sport Organizations to bring another 71 International Single Sport Events to Canada. Of these events, those receiving over $50,000 in funding need to report on the economic impact linked to the event. There were 25 such events in 2015–16, with an estimated economic impact of $166.8 million. Furthermore, the Hosting Program put in place a new agreement with the Winnipeg 2017 Canada Summer Games Host Society. The Program is working with the 2017 host society as it prepares to deliver the 50th Canada Games, which coincide with Canada’s 150th year of Confederation.

All together the international events hosted in Canada provided 8,231 competition opportunities, which more than doubled its target. However, this is a decrease of 26% from the 11,099 opportunities of 2014–15 and of 15% from the 9,669 opportunities of 2013–14. Competition opportunities in 2015-16 are lower than in 2014-15 because of the spike in competition opportunities resulting from the hosting of the Pan and Panamerican Games test events in 2014-15. As well, a number of events that do not occur on an annual basis and are awarded to countries on a rotational basis were held in 2014-15. Some 78% of funded International Single Sport Events (ISSEs) provided extra competition opportunities to Canadians because the events were held in Canada.

The grouped evaluation of the sports programs for 2010–2011 to 2014–2015 (approved March, 2016), revealed that the HP is seen as being important for enabling organizations to host international sports events here in Canada. The report also pointed out that for the most part, the HP complied with its service standards each year.   Regarding the main issues raised, recommendations were made for evaluating the models based on the degree of economic, social and cultural benefits of hosting events. The evaluation also recommended taking steps to clarify responsibilities for the management of legacy initiatives in all legacy plans.

The next evaluation of the sport programs (Hosting Program, Sport Support Program & Athlete Assistance Program) is planned for completion in 2020–21.

The Sport Support Program is the primary funding vehicle for initiatives associated with the delivery of the Government of Canada’s sport mandate. The Sport Support Program funding is aimed at: developing athletes and coaches at the highest international levels; providing sound technically-based sport programming for all athletes; increasing the number of Canadians from all segments of society involved in sport; and advancing Canadian interests and values in Canada and abroad. This funding is provided to eligible organizations in support of programming that supports the goals of the Canadian Sport Policy. This Program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Contributions for the Sport Support Program.

In 2015–16, 98.2% of National Sport Organizations (NSOs) funded by the Department through the Sport Support Program aligned their coaching program with the tenets of Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD). This is the same rate as was observed in 2014–15 and is consistent with the renewal rate of sports’ coaching programs. The Sport Support Program increased its support to 31 National Sport Organizations participating at the Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games. This funding allowed NSOs to strengthen the preparation of athletes leading up to the Games. The Program also continued its support to the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Own the Podium, and Canadian Sport Centres. This continued support enabled the achievement of the stated goal of a top 2 performance at the Pan American Games and at the Parapan American Games. It also supported the achievement of numerous qualification standards and quota positions for the Rio 2016 Olympic & Paralympic Games. The Program also provided supplemental federal funding to Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities which enabled approximately 4,500 Syrian refugee children, along with other new immigrant children to participate in two organized sport events. The supplemental federal funding covered the costs of registration and sport equipment to make this possible.
2015–16 also saw the coming into effect of new bilateral sport agreement cycle between Federal and Provincial/Territorial Governments. These agreements will be in effect from 2015 to 2019 and will carry forward the objectives from the previous cycle, notably:

• the provision of opportunities for persons from under-represented groups and/or marginalized populations to actively participate in sport including in roles as athletes, coaches, officials, and, volunteer leaders;  as well as,
• provide support to projects that strengthen physical literacy and children and youth participation that are compatible with the first three stages of Canadian Sport for Life. 

Of note, the coming into effect of the new bilateral agreement cycle changed the way in which Provinces and Territories report on projects. The target of 95 projects for 2015–16 had been estimated based on the 2014–15 bilateral agreement model. However, the new cycle is streamlining some agreement activities and changed how projects are reported. This led to a reduction in the number of projects since activities of similar nature are simply reported on as one project with several occurrences. The actual number of projects for 2015–16 is 62. While the number of projects are lower than targeted, the number of individuals participating in these activities is not expected to decrease.

A cluster evaluation of the sport programs (SSP, AAP, HP) covering the period from 2010–2011 to 2014–2015 (approved March, 2016), found that the SSP is important for sports organizations in terms of funding for activities/programs/services, contributing to excellence programs and providing athletes opportunities to compete. It was revealed that Canadians continue to place importance on participation in sports, particularly for their children, however, the costs are seen as one of the main obstacles to participation in sports activities. The evaluation also emphasizes the need to more clearly define Sport Canada’s role in sports participation.

The next evaluation of the sport programs (Hosting Program, Sport Support Program & Athlete Assistance Program) is planned for completion in 2020–21.

The Athlete Assistance Program contributes to the pursuit of excellence through its support for improved Canadian athlete performances at major international sporting events, enabling athletes to combine their sport and academic or working careers while training intensively in pursuit of world-class performances. To this end, the Program identifies and supports athletes already at or having the potential to be in the top sixteen in the world in their sport. This Program uses funding from the following transfer payments: Grants to the Athlete Assistance Program.

In 2015–16, the Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) contributed to the pursuit of excellence through its direct support to athletes. Living and training allowances were granted to 1,888 carded athletes who are already at, or have the potential to be, in the top 16 in the world in their sport. This enabled athletes to combine their sport and academic or working careers while training intensively in pursuit of world-class performances. Of these athletes, 417 achieved top 16 and top half within their sport internationally in 2015–16 while 274 met the international level performance standard of top 8 and top half.

The completed Status of the Athlete Survey shows that 84% of funded athletes agreed that AAP has made it possible to achieve higher levels of athletic performance.

As for the number of currently and formerly carded athletes receiving a tuition grant (including deferred tuition), 679 athletes received over $2 million in tuition in 2015–16. This is below the target by 15.7% and a decrease of 3% from last year's 700 athletes and of 8% from the 735 athletes in 2013–14. These variations can, in part, be attributed to the change in tuition policies in 2012 which reduced maximum annual tuition amounts to $5,000 and maximum lifetime amounts to $25,000. More athletes are now reaching the lifetime maximum amount and are no longer eligible for tuition support.

The cluster evaluation of the sports programs covering the period from 2010-2011 to 2014-2015 (approved March, 2016), revealed that the AAP is seen by all stakeholders as being a critical source of income for the athletes. It also revealed that for the most part, the AAP complied with its service standards each year; that the program funding model is effective and equitable but insufficient funding remains a problem. Concerns also persist about achieving targeted excellence levels. The evaluation recommended that the current funding formula be studied in order to ensure that the AAP adequately supports the athletes as well as the clarification of the key stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities.