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Application guidelines – National Acadian Day funding

Celebration and Commemoration Program

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Context

The Acadian people, pioneers and builders of the country, have celebrated National Acadian Day on August 15 since 1881, the year in which the first national Acadian convention was held in Memramcook, New Brunswick. The National Acadian Day Act was assented by the Government of Canada in 2003.

Events during the celebrations of National Acadian Day on August 15 recognize the contribution of Acadians to the Canadian cultural fabric, recognize their historical presence on the land, and recognize their cultural specificity in all its diversity.

Objectives for Celebration and Commemoration Program

The Celebration and Commemoration Program is comprised of two components, Celebrate Canada and Commemorate Canada. The objectives of the Program are to:

Objectives and expected results – National Acadian Day component

The Program provides funding for community-based activities celebrating and promoting National Acadian Day on August 15.

Expected results:

Application deadline

The application intake period is now closed.

Eligibility

We are responsible for determining the eligibility of each applicant, its project and project-related expenses.

The component National Acadian Day is highly competitive. Requests for funding typically exceed our available resources. If your organization or group is eligible, submitting an application is not a guarantee of funding.

Who can apply

The following organizations are eligible for funding:

The following organizations are not eligible:

Eligible projects

To be eligible for funding for National Acadian Day, your project must:

The following activities are not eligible:

Eligible expenses

Only project-related expenses are eligible. These may include:

The following are ineligible expenses:

If funding is approved, we may fund expenses incurred as of April 1 of the year in which the event takes place. However, if you incur expenses for your project before receiving written confirmation of your funding approval, you will be doing so at your own risk.

Limits of government assistance

To ensure the success of your project, we encourage you to have other funding sources. This may include contributions from your organization, the private sector or other levels of government.

The total financial assistance received from National Acadian Day and other levels of government (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) must not exceed 100 % of your total eligible project-related costs.

The total amount that can be requested from the Program for a National Acadian Day community celebration cannot exceed $5,000.

How to apply

Read these Application Guidelines in their entirety before completing your application.

You must meet all eligibility requirements and submit a complete application package to be considered for funding. A complete application package includes:

Application process

How applications are evaluated

We fund projects that have clear objectives and measurable results. Your application will be evaluated based on the evaluation criteria below and in relation to the funds available. When prioritizing the applications, we will consider the following:

Failure to comply with any conditions of a previously funded project will be considered in the evaluation and could result in the rejection of your new application.

Evaluation criteria

Application processing time

Please refer to the Service standards for Canadian Heritage funding programs or contact the Program.

We will acknowledge receipt of your application within two weeks of receiving your application in our office. If you have not received confirmation from the Department within 14 days of submission, please contact the Atlantic regional office: canada5k@pch.gc.ca.

Funding decisions

Please note that decisions regarding eligibility and funding amounts are final.

How funding is provided

We will determine if funding will be disbursed as a grant or as a contribution.

A grant is a payment issued to a recipient for a project. The conditions you agreed to at the time of application will apply. At the end of your project, you must submit a final activity/results report and/or participate in the evaluation of results.

A contribution is a conditional payment issued to your organization for a specific purpose, as outlined in a funding agreement. The agreement is signed by your organization and by us and specifies the terms and conditions to receive payment. At the end of your project, you must submit a final report.

Funding conditions

You may be required to submit interim reports during your project and a final report is required if the funding is a contribution.

Additional conditions may apply and, if applicable, will be included in your funding agreement.

In signing the application form, the Recipient declares that they will undertake activities at the location(s) and on the date(s) described in the application. Once the Department has approved financial assistance, no major change can be made to the project without Departmental approval. Funds not used for these purposes must be returned to the Department. When the proposed project undergoes major changes, the Department reserves the right to reduce the grant or contribution at its sole discretion.

When the recipient informs the Department of major changes prior to the events, the Department will inform the Recipient, within 10 working days from the reception date, of any change to the funding amount.

Please note that failure to comply with any funding condition, including acknowledgement of financial assistance, can affect decisions about future funding for your organization and may require a return of funds.

Workplace well-being

The Government of Canada is strongly committed to promoting healthy workplaces where harassment, abuse and discrimination are not tolerated. Organizations that receive funding from Canadian Heritage must take measures to create a workplace free from harassment, abuse and discrimination.

Official languages requirements

We are committed to taking positive measures to enhance the vitality of official-language minority communities and to promote the use of English and French in Canadian society. If you receive funding, you agree to comply with the official languages requirements set out in your application or in your funding agreement.

Acknowledgement of financial assistance

If you receive funding, you must publicly acknowledge – in English and in French – the financial support received from the Government of Canada in all communications materials and promotional activities. Additional requirements may be included in your funding agreement.

For additional information, please refer to our Guide on the public acknowledgement of financial support.

Impact Assessment Act

If you receive funding, your project may be subject to the provisions of the Impact Assessment Act. If your activities are to be carried out on federal lands, we will contact you for additional information prior to the start of your project.

Access to information requests

We are subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. The information you submit in your application may be disclosed in accordance with these acts.

Disclosure of information

By submitting your funding application, you authorize us to disclose any information submitted with this application within the Government of Canada or to outside entities for the following purposes:

Audits of recipients and evaluation of the Program

We reserve the right to audit your accounts and records to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of your funding agreement. We also conduct periodic Program evaluations, during which you may be required to present documentation.

You must keep any records, documents, or other information that may be required to perform the audit or the evaluation for five years. Demonstrated failure to maintain such records may result in the repayment of amounts previously received.

If found to have submitted false or unsupported information, the Applicant may be required to repay the full amount of the financial support received and may be declared ineligible for funding from the Department for the next two fiscal years or more.

Contact us

For further information, please contact us:

Department of Canadian Heritage
Celebration and Commemoration Program
Unit 106-1045 Main St, 4th Floor
Moncton NB  E1C 1H1

Email

canada5k@pch.gc.ca

Telephone

506-851-7066
1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)

TTY (Teletypewriter)

1-888-997-3123 (for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired)

Agents are available to answer your questions Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ET).

Glossary

Administrative costs
Costs associated with the general management of a project or organization, such as salaries and benefits, fees for services, bank charges and utilities (not exceeding 15% of total contribution). The Program can only reimburse administrative costs directly related to the proposed project. Administrative costs related to the general operation of an organization are not eligible for funding.
Audited financial report
An audited financial report includes a statement of operations for the given period with regard to the Project and is prepared by a certified accountant who is not part of your organization.
Audited financial statements
A complete set of financial statements including a statement of financial position; a statement of operations; and a statement of changes in financial position. Audited financial statements are completed by a certified accountant who is not part of your organization. The certified accountant performs auditing activities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Cash flow
A presentation of all anticipated revenues and planned expenses that will occur over the length of your project. At the beginning of your project, your cash flow will have only forecasted revenues and expenses. Over time, your cash flow will be updated to reflect the actual revenues and expenses.
Ceremonial or traditional foods
Ceremonial or traditional food is specific to a culture’s heritage and may be integral to a cultural celebration or ritual.
Ethnocultural communities
A group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage. For the purpose of this definition, ethnocultural communities include Canadians of diverse culture such as, but not limited to African, Arab, Asian, Latin American or mixed heritage.
Final activity/ results report
A final activity/ results report is submitted at the end of your project based on the requirements in the funding agreement. Your final report needs to provide details about the activities, the results of the activities undertaken for the duration of your project and the total cost of your event. You may be required to provide photos and other evidence, such as posters or press clippings, to support your final report.
Financial statements
A complete set of financial statements, including a statement of financial position; a statement of operations; and a statement of changes in financial position. Financial statements may be audited or unaudited.
Final financial report
A final financial report includes, as separate items, the budget as well as all of the revenues realized and expenditures incurred for the given period with regard to the Project being funded.
Indigenous communities
Indigenous communities include First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities.
Interim reports
Interim reports are submitted during your project based on the requirements in the funding agreement. These reports indicate the results of the activities undertaken for a specific period. In addition, they include a status report on the work to be accomplished and updated revenue and expense reports.
Legal status
  • Established as a federal corporation (incorporated): Please provide the Date of incorporation and Registration number
  • Established as a provincial/territorial corporation (incorporated): This includes municipal governments. Please provide the Date of incorporation and Registration number
  • In the process of becoming a federal corporation: Please provide your date of application, leave the Incorporation/Registration number blank
  • In the process of becoming a provincial/territorial corporation: Please provide your date of application, leave the Incorporation/Registration number blank
  • Cooperative: Please provide date and number
  • Unincorporated association: Leave the date and Incorporation/Registration number blank and complete the Unincorporated applicant acceptance of responsibility form included in the Application Form
  • Registered charity: Please provide Canada Revenue Agency registration date and number
Official-language minority communities
The official-language minority communities are the Anglophone communities residing in Quebec and the Francophone communities residing outside of Quebec.
Volunteer
An individual working on behalf of others without receiving financial or material gain.

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